Teen accused of girl's murder expelled from school hours before her death, court hears

A 16-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing nine-year-old Aria Thorpe had been expelled from school just hours before her death, Bristol Crown Court heard. Aria died from a single stab wound to her chest at her home in Weston-super-Mare on December 15, 2025.

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They would contact another school to put something in place.

The court heard that while the teenager often faced disciplinary issues for disruptive behavior, teachers had noted he was "trying hard" in the week leading up to his exclusion. His mother stated in a court submission that she received a call from the school on the day of Aria's death, informing her of the decision for him to no longer attend and that another school would be contacted. She expressed anger, recalling being told he was trying hard just a week prior.

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I felt angry, the week before I was told he was trying hard.

The defendant's mother also told jurors she had confiscated his phone and expressed her disappointment, though she noted no significant change in his behavior. The teenager's grandfather described him as someone who would "back chat" his mother but denied awareness of any physical altercations. He mentioned exploring options like the Navy for the boy, noting he was not academic and tended to act impulsively without thinking. Attempts to get him involved in rugby were unsuccessful due to his perception of the sport as too aggressive.

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I'm so disappointed with you.

Aria was found unresponsive by a lodger, Ollie Sheppard, shortly after 6 p.m. Emergency services attempted resuscitation but were unsuccessful. Aria's mother, Victoria Hull, had last seen her daughter alive around 4:30 p.m. after collecting her from a dance class. Aria appeared happy, eating pizza while watching television. Hull then left for her evening shift at Pontins, intending to earn extra money for Christmas, and returned home around 7:20 p.m. to find police at the property. The defendant, arrested on a train, told officers in an interview, "I don't know why I did it, it just happened." He became emotional when asked if he knew he would stab Aria or if he was angry with her, shaking his head.

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We were exploring him [the defendant] joining the Navy.