Teenager charged with killing girl, 10, at party

A TEENAGER accused of murdering a 10-year-old girl at a Christmas party in England appeared in court yesterday.

Paul James Smith, 17, was charged with killing Rosie May Storrie at a house in the Leicestershire village of Normanton on Sunday evening.

The girl was found unconscious, lying face down on a bed, and was taken to hospital where she later died.

The tragedy happened at a house party in the village, near Grantham, hosted by Smith's aunt and uncle.

Rosie, who lived in the nearby village of Bottesford, was found at around 9.20pm and the alarm was raised. She was taken to hospital in Sheffield but later died. A post mortem examination later found the cause of death was oxygen starvation of the brain due to strangulation.

Smith, of Bowmans Way, Sedgebrook, Lincolnshire, appeared before magistrates in Loughborough yesterday after he was charged with murdering the girl on Thursday night.

Smith, who turns 18 next week, was later remanded in custody to return to Loughborough Magistrates Court next Friday, January 9.

Rosie May's parents, Graham and Mary Storrie, later released a statement paying tribute to their daughter.

It said: "We would like to thank our family and friends for their continued support in the tragic loss of Rosie May. She was a very special 10-year-old who was the light of our lives."

She will be desperately missed by her parents and brothers Luke, 16, and Laurence, 13.