Ava White: Boy, 14, charged with murder of 12-year-old in Liverpool

Three other boys have been conditionally bailed as police continue to investigate the killing

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with murdering 12-year-old Ava White who was stabbed to death in Liverpool last week. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due at Merseyside Youth Remand Court later accused of murder and possession of a bladed article. Ava was out with friends in the city centre when she was attacked on Thursday and died shortly afterwards. She was stabbed soon after the city's Christmas lights were switched on at about 8:40pm. Read more: Ava White: Tributes to ‘unique and bubbly’ 12-year-old ‘murdered by a group of boys’ Three other boys, aged between 13 and 15, were also arrested and have been conditionally bailed as police continue to investigate the killing. Merseyside Police said officers found Ava collapsed on the ground with "catastrophic injuries" in Church Alley. The force said she had earlier been involved in a "verbal argument" which "escalated to an assault on her involving a knife". Read more:

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Ava, who attended Notre Dame Catholic College in Everton, was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital but died a short time later. The headteacher at Ava's school, Peter Duffy, described her as "an incredibly popular girl with a fantastic group of friends". "Ava was a much loved, valued, and unique member of the Notre Dame family. She was an incredibly popular girl with a fantastic group of friends. "Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Ava's family and friends and all those affected by this utterly tragic event. "My staff are working with students to provide all the support they need at this traumatic time."