On Air Now

Darren Lethem

6:00pm - 10:00pm

  • 01723 336444

Now Playing

Listen Live Advertise

Aria Thorpe: Images released of girl, 9, stabbed to death - as boy appears in court charged with murder

Wednesday, 17 December 2025 18:24

Police have released photos of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe who was stabbed to death in Somerset.

One image shows the girl in a white sleeveless top and wearing a hairband with Minnie Mouse-style ears.

The other picture is of Aria in a pink dress, wearing a rosette and surrounded by balloons as she celebrates her birthday.

Her family approved the release of the images.

It comes as a teenage boy appeared in court charged with the girl's murder.

Aria died after suffering a single stab wound on Monday, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Emergency services were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare at 6.09pm but Aria was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with her murder.

During a brief hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was remanded into youth detention accommodation ahead of a hearing at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

A police cordon remains in place at the scene of Aria's death as forensics officers continue their work.

Read more from Sky News:
NHS facing 'worst-case scenario' as doctors strike
Arrests over plot to steal 'tonnes' of charity clothes to fund crime

Superintendent Jen Appleford, from Avon and Somerset Police, said the community was in shock and Aria's family were being supported by police.

"It is impossible to adequately describe how traumatic the past 36 hours have been for them and we'd like to reiterate in the strongest possible terms their request for privacy," she said.

Supt Appleford said police were working with local schools and other agencies to make sure support is available.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2025: Aria Thorpe: Images released of girl, 9, stabbed to death - as boy appears in court charged with murder

Share

Did you find this article useful?

This is the Coast is committed to providing a daily local news service for the Yorkshire Coast. We are a small locally owned and operated business which employs professional journalists and reporters. We do not receive any public funding or grants and we are entirely funded by our local commercial operations. We enjoy fabulous support from local businesses who work with us on their advertising and marketing campaigns, but the cost of providing high quality, well researched, fact checked local news coverage is significant.

If you appreciate what This is the Coast does, and would like to help support our journalism, please consider supporting us on a monthly basis today.

A small contribution from all our readers would really help support independent journalism for the Yorkshire Coast.

More from Video

Follow Us

Get Our Apps

Our Apps are now available for iOS, Android and Smart Speakers.

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play
  • Just ask Amazon Alexa
  • Available on Roku

Today's Weather

  • Scarborough

    Medium-level cloud

    High: 10°C | Low: 8°C

  • Filey

    Heavy Rain

    High: 10°C | Low: 8°C

  • Whitby

    Light rain

    High: 11°C | Low: 8°C

  • Bridlington

    Light rain

    High: 11°C | Low: 8°C

  • Hornsea

    Light rain

    High: 10°C | Low: 8°C

  • Driffield

    Light rain

    High: 10°C | Low: 8°C

News

© Copyright 2025 This is the Coast Limited. This is the Coast is licensed by PRS & PPL to stream music online. Powered by Aiir.