The youth, who cannot be named because of his age, is charged with murdering Aria Thorpe at an address in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, on December 15.
When he appeared at Bristol Crown Court yesterday, the boy pleaded not guilty to a single charge of murder.
Prosecuting, Ray Tully KC said the ‘matter is set for trial on June 15, with a time estimate of two weeks’.
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Andrew Langdon KC represented the boy during the 20-minute hearing.
Judge Martin Picton said reporting restrictions preventing the identity of the defendant from being published would continue.
He was then remanded in custody.
News of the nine-year-old’s death led to an outpouring of tributes and support for Aria’s grieving family.
Aria’s father, Tom Thorpe, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, described her as a ‘brave, kind-hearted and beautiful, innocent soul’ in an emotional tribute.
Aria’s family on her mother’s side said she was ‘the most beautiful little soul – happy-go-lucky, full of light and joy’.
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