THE teenager who fatally stabbed 12-year-old Ava White at a Christmas light display can be named for the first time as he turns 18.
Harry Gilbertson was 14 when he carried out the attack on the schoolgirl in Liverpool city centre in November 2021.
Ava’s family were sent a Snapchat picture of Gilbertson taunting them on her 15th birthdayPA
PAAva suffered ‘devastating injuries’ and tragically passed away shortly after being taken to hospital[/caption]
The following year, Gilbertson was convicted of her murder after a trial and sentenced to a minimum of 13 years in prison.
Reporting restrictions preventing him from being identified were kept in place until he turned 18 – despite appeals from the media, which were supported by Ava’s family.
The schoolgirl was just 12 years old when she was killed after being stabbed in the neck outside a clothing shop at a Christmas lights display.
Gilbertson had launched the devastating attack after a petty row over a Snapchat video.
Ava suffered “devastating injuries” and tragically passed away shortly after being taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Her mother, Leeann White, 42, said: “I wanted the whole world to know who he was.
“I think Liverpool had the right to know who he was as well.
“I try not to think about him if I’m being honest, because if I do, I’m just taking a million steps back.
“So I just try to focus on Ava and doing stuff for her legacy is more important to me than thinking about him.”
In January 2024, Ms White’s family was sent a photograph from a Snapchat account which appeared to show Gilbertson with his arms crossed.
In the picture – sent on Ava’s 15th birthday – he posed with another male whose face had been covered up and who had his middle finger up.
Ms White reported the photo and was told Gilbertson had been using an iPad for educational purposes, but a glitch had allowed him to access the internet.
She was told he had been “read the riot act” but had no formal punishment.
She added: “He didn’t get any privileges taken off him. He just got a telling off basically.
“I can never have a photograph with my child now so why does he have the right?
“He lost his rights when he murdered my child.”
At the trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard that the killer had filmed Ava and her friends.
He posted the footage to Snapchat, which Ava insisted he delete.
Prosecuting KC Charlotte Newell told the court that he “thrust a knife into the neck of this unarmed child”.
The defendant claimed he stabbed Ava “accidentally” and in self-defence, denying murder and manslaughter, but was found guilty of murder at Liverpool Crown Court.
On July 11, 2022, Gilbertson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years after the jury deliberated for two hours and eight minutes.
Appearing in the youth court via video link, he put his head in his hands and sobbed upon hearing the verdict.
Ava’s heartbroken family have been very vocal about the impact her death has had and about knife crime in the UK.
Speaking 12 months after the horrific night, Ava’s mother, Leanne, told BBC Radio Merseyside: “I just remember getting a phone call off my sister saying Ava had been stabbed.
“I can remember thinking she’s made some kind of mistake… Ava won’t have been stabbed.
“I went straight up to Alder Hey and then everything was just a blur.
“It’s easier for the offender to do the crime, get 13 years in jail and come out after that.
“It’s us doing the life sentence, and Ava.”
PAGilbertson launched the devastating attack after a petty row over a Snapchat video[/caption]
PAAva suffered ‘devastating injuries’ and died shortly after being taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital[/caption]
PAHer mum Leeann White seen holding a photo of herself with her daughter[/caption]
PAGilbertson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 13 years[/caption]
PALeeann White told how she wanted the ‘whole world’ to know Gilbertson’s name[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
