A nine-year-old girl lost her life from a single stab wound to her chest at her home address, a coroner's court has been told.
Details from the Coroner's Court
Aria Thorpe was pronounced dead by paramedics at 6.58pm on 15 December at a property in the Mead Vale area of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
Coroner's officer Andrew Eastwood informed Avon Coroners' Court on Friday that the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.
The area coroner for Avon, Dr Peter Harrowing, adjourned the full inquest pending the outcome of criminal proceedings. He directed that the complete post-mortem report be provided by 16 February and set a review date for the coronial case for 10 April.
Dr Harrowing listed Aria's family and the alleged perpetrator as interested persons in the case.
Ongoing Criminal Proceedings
A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, appeared at Bristol Crown Court last month charged with Aria's murder.
Judge Peter Blair KC, the Recorder of Bristol, has set a provisional trial date of 15 June this year. The trial is anticipated to last for two weeks.
Avon and Somerset Police were initially called to the scene by paramedics at 6.09pm on 15 December.
Family Tributes to a 'Beautiful Little Soul'
In a heartfelt statement, Aria's family on her mother's side described her as "the most beautiful little soul - happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy."
"The loss of Aria has devastated us beyond words. Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible," they added, stating the family was supporting one another through an "unimaginable time."
Her father, Tom Thorpe, paid his own tribute, calling Aria 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," he said. "You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well."
