Ava White murder trial updates as jury set to be sworn in

The trial over the death of 12-year-old Ava White formally begins today.

Ava died on Thursday, November 25 last year after visiting Liverpool city centre with friends to watch the Christmas lights switch-on. Police said she was involved in a “verbal argument” in Church Alley, which escalated into an “assault on her with a knife”, at around 8.35pm.

Ava was taken to hospital, but died from what a post-mortem examination found was a stab wound to her neck. A 14-year-old boy, from South Liverpool, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murder. He admits having an offensive weapon, namely a knife.

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Ava, a Year 8 student at Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton, was described as “hugely” popular, “bright” and “unique”. In the wake of her death, hundreds of people attended a vigil in the city centre and the Radio City tower was lit up blue in her memory.

Flowers and balloons were left in Church Street by those paying tribute to her, along with pictures, teddy bears and football shirts. The dad of the 12-year-old, Robert Martin, said the family were “completely devastated” and “heartbroken”.

A jury will be selected today, ahead of the prosecution opening on Monday.