Ava White: Boy, 14, charged with girl's Liverpool stab murder

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AVA WHITEImage source, FAMILY HANDOUT
Image caption,

Ava White was out with friends in Liverpool when she was attacked

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murdering a 12-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in Liverpool.

Ava White was out with friends in the city centre when she was attacked on Thursday and died shortly afterwards.

She was stabbed shortly after the city's Christmas lights switch-on at about at 20:40 GMT.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was remanded in secure accommodation after appearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.

He appeared at the court, sitting as a youth court, charged with murder and possession of a bladed article.

District Judge Wendy Lloyd said he would appear again at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday.

Three other boys, aged between 13 and 15, were also arrested and have been conditionally bailed as the investigation continues.

Merseyside Police said officers found Ava collapsed on the ground with "catastrophic injuries" in Church Alley.

She had been involved in a "verbal argument" which "escalated to an assault on her involving a knife", the force said.

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Floral tributes have been left near the scene of Ava's stabbing

Ava was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after paramedics arrived but died a short time later.

Floral tributes have been left near the scene where she was attacked.

Ava, who attended Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton, was described as "an incredibly popular girl with a fantastic group of friends" by her head teacher Peter Duffy.

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