Teenagers who murdered Brianna Ghey have been sentenced to life
The two teenage killers who committed the horrific murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey have been sentenced.
The pair, both 15 at the time of the attack, have been found guilty of murdering the trans schoolgirl in a 'frenzied and ferocious' knife attack.
Brianna was stabbed 28 times in the head, neck, chest and back after being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of 11 February, 2023.
Advert
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, both now 16, have been named as the killers after Mrs Justice Yip lifted a ban on reporting their identities at Manchester Crown Court.
Mrs Justice Yip began by sentencing the both of the defendants, explaining: “Scarlett and Eddie, you are to be sentenced for murder, you are to be detained at his majesty’s pleasure, which, as you know, is a life sentence.
“I must also set a minimum term before you can be considered for release.
“You will only be released if in the future it is decided you no longer present a danger. That decision will be for the Parole Board.
“Brianna was only 16-years-old. She had her whole life ahead of her.
“This case is unusual and it has shocked the public.”
Jenkinson must serve at least 22 years while Ratcliffe must serve at least 20 years, the judge said.
Mrs Justice Yip, said there was 'a strong public interest in the full and unrestricted reporting of what is plainly an exceptional case'.
She said: "The public will naturally wish to know the identities of the young people responsible as they seek to understand how children could do something so dreadful.
"Continuing restrictions inhibits full and informed debate and restricts the full reporting of the case."
The defendants previously denied murder and blamed the other for the killing.
The trial heard the pair had a fascination with violence, torture and murder and a 'thirst for killing'.
Both were said to have come from normal backgrounds and never been in trouble with police before.
When Jenkinson (Girl X) was 14, she downloaded a TOR internet browser app to watch videos of the torture and murder of real people in 'red rooms' on the 'dark web'.
The trial heard that she developed an interest in serial killers, making notes on their methods, and admitted enjoying 'dark fantasies' about killing and torture.
Ratcliffe (Boy Y) has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and is non-verbal, while Jenkinson was diagnosed with traits of autism and ADHD.
Brianna's mother, Esther Ghey, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain last month: “I don’t know whether justice will ever be done for Brianna. It would be nice to have her back home. That would be justice for me but obviously, that isn’t going to happen.
“Knowing that they are going to prison and they are going to have a long time, if not forever, is a massive relief because during the trial it was a rollercoaster of emotion as you always had that little seed of doubt that maybe the jury would come to the decision that they were not guilty. So hearing that guilty plea - it was just a massive sense of relief.
“The fact that they both pointed the finger at each other shows that they are cowards really and it shows the character of each of them.
"Maybe if they had admitted or shown a little remorse, I may have felt some sympathy for them.”
Anish Vij