A West Yorkshire headteacher says her primary school is “heartbroken” following the alleged murder of a “caring” girl in Arbroath.
Minnie Merriman was found injured at Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath shortly before midnight on Sunday.
She was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, alongside three members of her family, where the nine-year-old was pronounced dead.
FacebookChristopher Rice, Minnie’s father, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he faced a single charge of murder.
The schoolgirl had attended Hendal Primary School in Wakefield since 2022. In a tribute, headteacher Kelly Ashton described her as a “kind and thoughtful girl who was loved by all of her friends”.
Hendal Primary SchoolShe added: “She has belonged to our school community for four years and will be remembered as a caring and creative girl who was always seen with a big smile on her face. She will be deeply missed by us all.
“Our love and sympathies go out to everybody affected by this devastating loss and our priority now is supporting our pupils and staff.”
Rice made no plea during his appearance in court.
The 35-year-old, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was remanded in custody and is due to appear before the court again within eight days.
‘I love you eternally’
Social mediaThe schoolgirl’s mum, Laurie Merriman, has paid tribute to her daughter who she described as her “twin”.
She wrote: “You have always and will continue being my strength, we are connected eternally, I have never felt a love so deep and a connection so strong.
“My first true love, my twin, I am connected to you in life and in death, and my girl that cannot be broken, I will fight to stay strong for your little brothers.
“I will hold my head high, knowing you will always be holding my hand for the rest of my life. I will see you again, that I know for sure. I love you eternally.”
What do we know?
Minnie Merriman and her family were camping on a grassy area at Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath, ten minutes’ walk from the beach, on Sunday, August 2.
The family are from West Yorkshire, but it’s not known how long they had been in Scotland prior to the incident.
The patch of grass where their tent was pitched sits in front of the Halliburton manufacturing facility. It’s not clear why the family chose to camp there.
The Scottish Ambulance Service were called at 11.53pm on Sunday.
Four ambulances were sent to the scene, and paramedics took Minnie and three members of her family to hospital.
STV NewsPolice were called at around 12.02am on Monday, less than ten minutes after the ambulance service.
Officers were told a nine-year-old girl was found with serious injuries.
STV News understands that police took Rice to hospital. They arrested him and held him in custody after he was discharged.
Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with Minnie’s death.