Stabbed nine-year-old 'had no defensive injuries'

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A nine-year-old girl who died of a stab wound had no other cuts or defensive-type injuries on her body, a court has heard.

Dr Amanda Jeffery, a Home Office pathologist, told jurors at Bristol Crown Court Aria Thorpe died as a result of a single stab wound to her chest, which went through her heart.

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, is on trial charged with Aria's murder and manslaughter, both of which he denies.

Jeffery said injuries to the heart of the nature Aria experienced at her Weston-super-Mare home on 15 December 2025 could "result in sudden collapse and incapacitation".

The pathologist said some victims were capable of "a short period of movement" before they collapsed, but the distribution of blood at the scene suggested Aria collapsed "very quickly".

"Aria would have died very swiftly from an injury of this nature," she told the court.

Aria had a stab wound measuring 3.2cm (1.26in) wide and between 7.5 and 8cm deep, jurors heard.

Bristol Crown Court was shown a kitchen knife with a green plastic handle and 21cm-long blade, which Jeffery confirmed was "capable of producing the wound that was present".

Witness Ollie Sheppard, who was staying temporarily at Aria Thorpe's home, previously told jurors he returned to the house after work at about 18:00 to find the nine-year-old on the floor of the living room.

In a 999 call read to the jury on Thursday, Sheppard told the call operator: "I have literally just got home from work, I've come through the door and came into the living room.

"A little girl who lives here is on her front. I have turned her over and she is covered in blood. There looks like a stab wound. Her face is going grey. Oh my god."

Police and paramedics attended the property and Aria was pronounced dead at 18:58.

The trial continues.

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