Liverpool was already in a state of shock when news started to filter through that a teenage girl had been killed in the city centre.
On November 14 last year, the city was rocked by an attempted terrorist attack that targeted the women's hospital, a deeply symbolic setting for many local people. Mercifully, 32-year-old Emad al-Swealmeen was only successful in ending his own life as the improvised explosive device he had created went off early in the back of the taxi he was travelling in, before he reached the entrance of a hospital full of newborn babies and their parents.
The dark thoughts of the devastation that might have been - as well as the investigation into why this man had tried to do such damage - were all many in this city could think about in the weeks after the attack. Sadly Liverpool had just 11 days before it was shaken once again.
READ MORE: Family sobs in court as Ava White's murderer locked up for life
On the night of November 25, reports of a serious incident in the city centre started to emerge. Crowds had been gathering to watch Liverpool's Christmas lights switch on, the main shopping area was filled with families and young children. Ava White, just a child herself, was in town to enjoy the festivities with her friends.
As prosecutor Charlotte Newell QC commented, Ava was having the 'time of her life' as she laughed and joked with friends. Just hours later the 12-year-old Notre Dame school pupil would be dead and this city would once again be jolted to its very core.
Sadly in Liverpool we are all too used to the spectre of knife crime ruining young lives. But this was a 12-year-old girl, stabbed to death in one of the city's busiest streets at one of the busiest times of the year. The tragedy was almost impossible to comprehend.
12 days later and hundreds of people poured into the Church Street area to hold an emotional vigil for Ava. A sea of balloons filled the Liverpool sky, buildings were lit up and emotional tributes were delivered from some of those who knew her and loved her.
Vigil organiser Anthony Goudie said: "I wanted Ava's family to know that they're not alone and they have got a whole city behind them." They will surely, hopefully have known that from the outpouring of sadness and support that spread around the city, which included a moving minute's applause at the Merseyside Derby.
Ava's family will hopefully finally feel a sense of justice being done today following her senseless death. Her then 14-year-old killer, known only as Boy A for legal reasons, was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years for her murder in court this afternoon.
Today's sentencing came after a draining 12-day trial which culminated in a jury taking just two hours and eight minutes to find Boy A guilty of Ava's murder. Some members of her family roared and cheered in court on that day, with shouts of "yes" and "get in", when the verdict was returned. Others burst into tears and some apologised for the reaction. No one could surely blame them for any explosion of emotion.
Speaking at the time, Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said her heart went out to the family and friends of the tragic 12-year-old. She said: "I know our city sends love and strength to all those who are mourning the loss of Ava - she will remain in our hearts and minds."
While today's sentencing will hopefully allow Ava's family some sense of closure and the wider Liverpool community a chance to heal, it is another reminder of the devastating consequences that knife crime continues to have on this city.
Ava White's murder was particularly distressing. She was just 12 years old and was stabbed to death in the early evening in a bustling city centre. But sadly the dreadful scenario of young people's lives being cut short by knives is nothing new in Liverpool and the surrounding region.
Whether it was 18-year-old dad Kyle Whitley, 16-year-old Daniel Gee-Jamieson or Sam Cook, killed while out celebrating his 21st birthday, Liverpool has seen far too many young people lost in recent years and something surely must change. Ava White's killer is now behind bars and Liverpool can start to try and heal - but it is incumbent on everyone who loves this city to do all we can to stop any more young lives being lost on our streets.
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