‘The loss of Aria has devastated us beyond words’
A new picture of Aria Thorpe has been released today. She was nine when she died(Image: Avon and Somerset Police / SWNS)
Fresh pictures of a nine-year-old girl stabbed to death at her home have been released as the trial of her alleged murderer gets underway.
Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound at her home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, on 15 December last year.
A 16-year-old boy, who can not be named because of his age, has been charged with her murder and is on trial at Bristol Crown Court this week.
Avon and Somerset Police said Aria’s family have “deliberately” selected six photos they wanted to be “associated” with her throughout the court proceedings.
They include images of her on a trip to London in front of Big Ben, feeding some birds, at her birthday party and enjoying the outdoors.
(Image: Avon and Somerset Police / SWNS)
The trial started on Monday, June 15.
After her death, Aria’s family on her mother’s side, said: “For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul — happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy.
“She loved to sing and dance, and she took such pride in dressing up, always wanting to look just like her mummy.
“The loss of Aria has devastated us beyond words. Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible.
“As a family, we are holding one another close and doing everything we can to support each other through this unimaginable time.
(Image: Avon and Somerset Police / SWNS)
“We are truly touched by the lovely messages we have received from friends and the local community over recent days. It has meant an awful lot to us all.
“We politely ask that our privacy is respected, as we try to come to terms with the terrible loss of our precious girl.”
Aria’s father, Tom Thorpe, said: “It’s hard to put into words how devastating it is, our little Aria, that you’re up there with the angels looking over us. How sad it’s going to be not hearing ‘Dad, how long left?’ on our long journeys back and forth at weekends.
“How I’ll long to hear you asking me to test you with maths, ‘numbers’ as you called it, to entertain you when you get bored with the iPad. How sad it’s going to be not making your buttery crackers, grapes and a yoghurt for your breakfast.
(Image: Avon and Somerset Police / SWNS)
“You were such a brave, kind-hearted and a beautiful innocent soul. You always put a smile on people’s faces with your wacky ways and just outright madness. You always found it so easy to show your affection to others and ensure others around you were happy and never bored!
“I’ll never ever forget our time in Disneyland as a family; seeing your face light up when we were watching the princess show was a picture that will last forever in our minds.
(Image: Avon and Somerset Police / SWNS)
“Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will forever miss you. We’ll miss you begging to go outside, even in the pouring rain just to have as much fun as possible in the little time we had at weekends.
“You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well. We all love you dearly. Goodnight darling.”
The trial is expected to last two weeks. Read the first instalment of the trial here.