Man thought stabbed girl was 'messing around'

Man thought stabbed girl was 'messing around'53 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLeigh Boobyer,West of EnglandandAndy Howard,Bristol Crown CourtFamily handoutAria Thorpe, aged nine, died from a single stab would to her chest in December 2025The man who found a nine-year-old girl after she had been stabbed said he first thought she was "messing around", a court has heard.Aria Thorpe died of a single stab wound to her chest in her home on 15 December last year in Weston-super-Mare.The man, who was staying at the house at the time, told Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, he then realised Aria was face down and covered in blood. He called 999 and attempted to give her CPR but she died at the scene.A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the murder and manslaughter of Aria.On Monday, Ray Tully KC, prosecuting, told the court the boy and Aria were "playfighting" before she "moved towards the knife".Tully added the defendant told young people after that Aria was injured when he "accidentally stabbed her with a really big knife".Family handoutA 16-year-old boy denies the murder and manslaughter of AriaThe man, who has not been named, told the court he entered Aria's home after finishing work at 18:03 GMT.He said: "I couldn't quite open the kitchen door, the cupboard under the stairs and school bags were blocking it."I thought the kids had been messy." He said he then pushed through the door, and shouted "hello is anyone home"."As I turned, I saw Aria on the floor," he said, adding she was "tucked in by the door, face down."He thought she was "messing around".He said: "I called her name, I put two and two together, I saw blood on her arm, and her school top was covered in blood."He added: "When I first rolled her over, her school t-shirt was covered in blood."He rang Aria's mother, who did not answer.He...