16-Year-Olds Found Guilty of Brianna Ghey’s Murder
Two 16-year-olds have been found guilty of the murder of Brianna Ghey, a teenager who identified as a girl, in a park near Manchester. Brianna, 16, was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in Linear Park, Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire, on Feb. 11, 2023. The attackers, who were referred to as Girl X and Boy Y throughout the trial due to legal reasons, aimed to fulfill their violent fantasy.
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, the defendants, who were both 15 at the time of the attack, attempted to shift the blame onto each other but were both found guilty of murder. They are due to be sentenced in the New Year.
The court heard that the pair had shared a “kill list” and planned the murder of Brianna. Both prosecutors and the judge concluded that they could not both be telling the truth, and that they both were fully involved in planning and carrying out the crime.
Boy Y, who had been described as socially awkward and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and selective mutism, had referred to Brianna as “it” but denied he was transphobic. Girl X, on the other hand, admitted to enjoying watching torture and violence from the “dark web” and expressed an interest in serial killers.
The court also heard that before the murder, the defendants exchanged messages about Brianna and their thoughts on her, indicating their obsession with her. Both face mandatory life sentences, and their ages will play a role in determining the minimum time they will serve before they may be considered for release.
PA Media contributed to this report.
