Trial date set for teen charged with girl’s murder

A provisional trial date has been set for a 15-year-old boy accused of murdering a nine-year-old girl.

It is the second time the teenager – who cannot be named for legal reasons – has appeared in front of a judge since Aria Thorpe was found dead at a house in Weston-super-Mare on Monday.

The defendant, who appeared via video link from youth detention accommodation, spoke only to confirm his name and did not enter a plea.

Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date of 15 June, with proceedings expected to last two weeks.

The defendant’s father watched the Bristol Crown Court hearing from the public gallery as his 15-year-old son held his head in his hands.

The teenager will remain in youth detention accommodation ahead of his next expected appearance in court on 16 March. No application for bail was entered.

He previously appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was remanded in custody.

Dozens of bouquets of flowers have been left in tribute to Aria in Lime Close, the residential street where she died.

Police said a post-mortem examination had found her preliminary cause of death was a single stab wound.

A close family member told BBC News on Tuesday the schoolgirl was “lively and bubbly”.

“She loved teaching dogs new tricks and adored country music,” they added. “Her favourite song was Jolene by Dolly Parton.”