The mother of a nine-year-old girl testified that her daughter was in high spirits after a successful dance class before she was tragically stabbed by a teenage boy, a court was told. Aria Thorpe passed away after being stabbed in the chest at her residence in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on December 15 last year.

A 16-year-old male, whose identity is protected due to his age, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter related to Aria’s death. A statement given by Aria’s mother, Victoria Hull, known as Tori, was presented to the jury at Bristol Crown Court. She mentioned that she assisted Aria in getting ready for school that morning.

Despite forgetting about Aria’s dance class, Ms. Hull picked her up at 3:10 pm and later returned at 4:30 pm upon Aria’s request to attend the class. Aria expressed having had a great day, as recounted by Ms. Hull, who detailed their trip to Aldi to purchase mini-pizzas and toppings. They returned home, made the pizzas, and Aria enjoyed hers while watching YouTube.

Ms. Hull recalled cutting Aria’s pizza with scissors, prompting Aria to eat with her hands. Aria appeared cheerful and content after her dance class, asking for an Oreo cookie and bidding her mother farewell before heading to work at Pontins for evening shifts to prepare for Christmas. She later learned about the tragic incident regarding Aria, leading to a distressing sequence of events.

Following the incident, the teenage boy went to a nearby railway station where he confessed his actions to a group of children. Subsequently, the authorities were notified, leading to his arrest. Witnesses described the boy as anxious and exhibiting concerning behavior after the incident, leading to his apprehension by the police.

The trial, overseen by Mrs. Justice O’Farrell, is ongoing with further details and testimonies being presented.