Aria Thorpe killing: family of nine-year-old pay tribute to ‘beautiful little soul’

The family of a nine-year-old girl who was stabbed to death have paid tribute to “the most beautiful little soul” as a teenage boy appeared in court charged with her murder.Aria Thorpe died from a single stab wound at a property in Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset on Monday.A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Bristol crown court on Friday charged with her murder. The defendant, who appeared via video link from youth detention accommodation, spoke only to confirm his name and did not enter a plea.During a brief hearing, Judge Blair KC, the recorder of Bristol, set a provisional trial date for 15 June next year.Later on Friday, Aria’s family on her mother’s side said in a statement: “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. 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.”Emergency services were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare just before 6.10pm on Monday, where Aria was pronounced dead at the scene. Shortly after, the 15-year-old boy was arrested in nearby Worle and taken into custody.His father was among those attending in the public gallery at Bristol crown court on Friday. The teenager is next expected to appear in court on 16 March.In a separate tribute, Aria’s father, Tom Thorpe, who lives in Portsmouth, 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.“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.”He added: “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 for ever in our minds. Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will for ever 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.”