Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAria Thorpe died from a fatal stab wound to her chest at her home in Weston-super-Mare (Family handout/PA)A 16-year-old boy has been acquitted of the murder and manslaughter of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe. The verdict was delivered by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday. Aria died from a fatal stab wound to her chest at her home in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on 15 December last year. The boy testified he picked up a knife to 'scare' Aria, accidentally stabbing her during a 'ninja-style' demonstration. After the incident, he left the scene without raising an alarm, later telling children at a railway station that her death was an 'accident' before his arrest. In fullTeen found not guilty of murder and manslaughter of nine-year-old Aria ThorpeThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

A teenage boy, aged 16, has been found not guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court of the murder and manslaughter of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe who died after being stabbed.

A 16-year-old boy has been found not guilty of the murder and manslaughter of Aria Thorpe, nine, who was found with a knife wound to her chest at her home in Weston-super-Mare

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or…

The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified due to his age, was cleared of both charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found not guilty after claiming he had accidentally plunged a knife into the schoolgirl's chest while acting 'like I…

Aria, nine, died after being stabbed in her chest at her home in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on December 15 last year.