Family of Ava White cry in court as video of stabbing played

Ava White’s family sobbed in court as a video of her being stabbed was played during a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Ava was just 12 when she died after being stabbed in the centre of Liverpool.

A boy, 14, is standing trial and denies murder and manslaughter. He is being referred to as Boy A and cannot be named for legal reasons, the Liverpool Echo reports.

The trial has heard that Boy A pulled out a “flick knife” and stabbed Ava in the neck, before it is alleged he smirked and let out a laugh before running away.

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The prosecution says a “cover up” followed by discarding his blade, designer coat and mobile phone. The prosecution say Boy A accepts responsibility for the stabbing, but states he acted in self-defence.

The trial continued on Tuesday with CCTV shown of the build-up to the incident, on the evening of November 25 last year.

Prosecutors told the court that Ava had been inolved in an argument with Boy A after he and his group of friends filmed her “messing around”. He later shared the video on Snapchat.

Police staff investigator Callum Suggit told the jury Ava and her friends were together in Williamson Square at around 8.15pm. Footage showed her running with one boy around a Christmas tree and some of her friends swinging plants around.

Charlotte Newell, QC, prosecuting, has said the two groups met by chance. Boy A and his friends, Boys B to D, walked up Richmond Street where they came across Ava’s group at around 8.22pm.

A clip was played to the jury of Boy A’s group walking past Ava as she was lying on the ground in the middle of Richmond Street, near Paolo & Donato’s Deli. Boy A and his friend Boy C could be seen to turn back with the phones held up, apparently filming.

Mr Suggit said Boy A recorded Ava on Snapchat. An officer was later able to film the video on another child’s phone, which was shown to the jury.

He said “altercations” could then be seen between Ava and members of Boy A’s group. Ms Newell said at one stage Ava could be seen trying to grab Boy C’s phone before both groups walked along Tarleton Street in the direction of Church Street, with Boy A walking backwards, facing Ava.

Footage showed Ava lying on the ground again in Church Street, as Boy A – walking backwards – and his group headed towards Church Alley at the side of Primark. Ava and another girl were then seen to run across the street.

Mr Suggit said both groups walked up Church Alley towards School Lane and The Bluecoat. CCTV footage from a camera at Lush was played in court, from which audio could be heard of raised voices.

High Court judge Mrs Justice Amanda Yip said if anyone wanted to leave court they could, before footage from School Lane, at around 20.35 and 35 seconds, was played four times – twice at normal speed and twice slowed down. Ms Newell said: “The CCTV shows Ava pushing Boy A.” Mr Suggit replied: “It does.”

The QC said the clip showed Ava stood in front of Boy A, who had his right arm raised. She said an enlarged still from the footage showed “a reflective item” in his right hand.

The jury heard CCTV showed him with his right hand in front of his body, Ava’s right arm move towards him, then Boy A’s right arm move up and away from Ava, then the schoolgirl move towards his position. Ms Newell said again a reflective item could be seen in his right hand.

The prosecutor said: “Microseconds later, parts of a second later, because it’s still 20.35.39, Boy A moving backwards around the edge of the group. A combined group of his friends and her friends, Boy A moving backwards around the edge of the group, with Ava following him.”

She said Boy A continued to move backwards around the edge of the group as his right arm was shown in front of him towards Ava and she “with her arms outstretched” in his direction. At 20.35 and 43 seconds, the prosecutor said Boy A was shown running away.

Ms Newell said: “So is it apparent in that second or two, that’s when Ava has received her injury?” “It is,” replied Mr Suggit.

The court heard Boy A continued to run away towards Hanover Street as two of Ava’s friends briefly gave chase, but then returned to their injured friend. Members of Ava’s family sobbed as an image was shown of her standing in School Lane, with her hand held to her neck.

(Proceeding)