A 12-year-old schoolgirl who was fatally stabbed in Liverpool city centre begged her friends 'don't leave me' as she lay bleeding on the ground, a court has heard. Ava White died after being stabbed in the neck by a 14-year-old boy, known as Boy A, on November 25, 2021.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Ava and her friends had bought vodka from a shop on London Road before an argument broke out with a group of boys who were filming them on their phones. The confrontation escalated when Boy A shouted 'look at the state of youse', prompting a further argument with Ava.
Girl H, a friend of Ava, told the court she saw Boy A move towards Ava and hit her. She said: 'I ran back to Ava and Ava was on the floor lying down... her neck was bleeding that much.' Girl H recalled Ava's last words: 'I remember her saying to us 'don't leave me'.'
Another friend, Girl D, described trying to stem the bleeding by applying pressure to Ava's neck while waiting for emergency services. Ava later died in hospital despite medical efforts.
Boy A denies murder and manslaughter, claiming he acted in self-defence. He has admitted possessing an offensive weapon. The trial continues.
