Manchester Crown Court is currently hearing the case of two teenagers accused of the brutal murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, a transgender girl, in Culcheth, Cheshire. The victim’s body was found in a park on February 11, bearing 28 stab wounds from a “sustained and violent assault”.
The accused, now 16 but aged 15 at the time of the incident, have pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Due to their age, they are referred to as girl X, from Warrington, and boy Y, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, in court proceedings.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC disclosed that the defendants exhibited a disturbing “preoccupation with violence, torture, and death”, as evidenced by messages recovered from their phones. These messages not only reflected their violent interests but also showed their planning and preparation for the murder of Brianna.
The court heard that in November 2022, the accused discussed killing a boy M, with girl X expressing a desire to keep certain body parts as souvenirs. Additionally, in January, boy Y sent girl X a photo of the hunting knife that was later used to kill Brianna.
The prosecution further revealed that girl X had messaged boy Y about her “obsession” with Brianna and her attempts to harm her with ibuprofen gel tablets. The pair had compiled a list of potential victims, including Brianna.
The incident unfolded when two dog walkers in Culcheth Linear Park noticed a male and female acting suspiciously before discovering Brianna’s bloodied body. The prosecution asserts that the knife belonging to boy Y was the murder weapon and that both defendants, despite blaming each other, are equally culpable in the planned and executed murder of Brianna Ghey.
The trial, which highlights the deeply concerning nature of the crime and its impact on the community, is ongoing.
