Boy accused of murdering girl, 9, googled what would happen if he killed someone, court hears

A court has heard how a teenage boy accused of murder had googled what would happen if he killed someone, just minutes after the attack.

The defendant, 16, who can't be named, is accused of killing 9-year-old Aria Thorpe in Weston Super-Mare on 15 December 2025.

Aria suffered a single stab wound to the chest.

Opening the trial at Bristol Crown Court, Prosecutor Ray Tully KC told the jury about the moment Aria was found on the floor.

A family friend of Aria's had returned from work to discover her body in the living room, surrounded by a large blood stain.

While the friend called 999 and performed CPR on Aria, the court heard that the defendant, who was 15 at the time, had fled at about 5.55pm to Worle railway station.

The jury was told he spoke to a group of young people on the station platform that he knew from school, asking one to borrow their phone.

Police analysis found he had searched on the phone what would happen if he killed someone.

He was heard by the witnesses saying he had to "get away" and that the victim had run into the 22cm knife he was holding.

One member of the group asked people to distract the boy while she called the police, an action the prosecution described as "smart, thoughtful and brave".

The boy was arrested on board the train minutes later.

In a police interview, the defendant described how Aria had said his name after the stabbing before taking two steps and falling to the floor while holding her chest.

He said he left because he felt scared, and when asked if he regretted it, he nodded.

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The prosecution also told the jury that the defendant had been messaging on his mobile phone throughout the night before the attack, from midnight to around 3am.

One group chat was named "Cut my life into pieces" before the defendant changed it to "I am going to kms" - the prosecution saying it presumably stands for 'kill myself'.

The defendant had his phone confiscated the next day, hours before the attack - and in police interviews, he said his phone represented "freedom" to him.

The jury heard Aria was 4ft 4 inches tall and weighed just over four stone.

She suffered a stab wound around 8cm to her heart, which also punctured her left lung.

The teenager denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

The trial, which is due to last two weeks, continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Boy accused of murdering girl, 9, googled what would happen if he killed someone, court hears