Overview
- The 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named by law, entered a not guilty plea at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.
- He was remanded in custody pending trial, which is scheduled to start on June 15 with an estimate of two weeks.
- Judge Martin Picton kept reporting restrictions in place because the defendant is a minor, so media cannot publish his identity.
- Avon Coroner’s Court recorded that Aria died from a single stab wound to her chest after police were called to her Weston-super-Mare home at 6:09 p.m. on December 15, 2025.
- Family tributes described Aria as a brave and joyful child, highlighting the deep loss felt in the community as the case proceeds.