Brianna Ghey’s mother calls for empathy as judge rules teenage killers can be named – live

Brianna, 16, was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in a park near Warrington in February

Barrister explains why Brianna Ghey’s teenage murderers could be named

Brianna Ghey’s mother has called for empathy and compassion for the parents of her daughter’s killers as a judge has ruled the two teenage murderers can be named.

Esther Ghey called for “empathy and compassion” for the pair’s families as “they too have lost a child” and “must live the rest of their lives knowing what their child has done”.

Trial judge Mrs Justice Yip praised Ms Ghey for her “fortitude and humanity” at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday.

During the hearing, the judge also said the young killers can be identified by the media when they are sentenced on 2 February, lifting the anonymity orders previously protecting the defendants’ identities due to their age.

Brianna, 16, was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back in Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of 11 February.

Following a four-week trial, the two teenagers accused, currently only identified as girl X and boy Y, both now aged 16 but 15 at the time, were convicted of murder on Wednesday and are now facing mandatory jail terms for life.

Key Points

• Brianna Ghey’s mother commended after call for compassion for killers’ parents
• Judge rules teenage killers can be named
• Two teenagers convicted of murdering Brianna Ghey in brutal park stabbing
• Brianna’s mother will not forgive ‘fearless’ daughter’s killers

[21 December 2023 19:00 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: Brianna Ghey’s headteacher pays tribute to ‘determined and fearless’ student

[21 December 2023 18:00 · Tara Cobham]

Was Brianna Ghey’s murder a transphobic hate crime?

The frenzied fatal stabbing of a transgender teenager in a public park on a Saturday afternoon led to worldwide protests and vigils against perceived transphobia.

But Brianna Ghey was not murdered by two teens, identified only as girl X and boy Y, because she was transgender, detectives believe.

The four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court heard boy Y used ‘dehumanising’ language, talking about Brianna, referring to her as an ‘it’ and referring to her as a “tranny” or “femboy.”

But it will ultimately be up to the trial judge Mrs Justice Yip to decide if hatred of transgender people played any part in her death.

Pat Hurst reports:

[21 December 2023 17:00 · Tara Cobham]

Watch: Barrister explains why Brianna Ghey's teenage murderers could be named

[21 December 2023 16:00 · Tara Cobham]

In pictures: Statements by police and Brianna Ghey’s family in wake of verdicts

Brianna Ghey's mother Esther Ghey making a statement to the waiting media outside Manchester Crown Court, after a boy and a girl, both 16, were found guilty of the murder of her daughter (PA)

Peter Spooner, father of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, reads a statement to the media outside of Manchester Crown Court (AFP via Getty Images)

Nigel Parr, senior investigating officer from Cheshire Police making a statement to the waiting media outside Manchester Crown Court (PA)

[21 December 2023 15:00 · Tara Cobham]

Which other young killers have been named by courts?

The media will be able to report the identities of Brianna Ghey’s killers when they are sentenced next February after a ruling by a Crown Court judge.

Children appearing in youth or crown courts in England and Wales, whether as a victim, witness or defendant, generally cannot be identified if they are under the age of 18.

However, anonymity orders can be lifted by judges. Here are some previous examples:

[21 December 2023 14:18 · Tara Cobham]

Brianna Ghey’s mother commended after call for compassion for killers’ parents

The mother of Brianna Ghey has been praised by a judge for her “fortitude and humanity” after she called for empathy and compassion for the parents of her daughter’s killers.

Brianna, 16, was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back after being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of February 11.

After the teenage killers were convicted, Brianna’s mother Esther Ghey called for “empathy and compassion” for their families as “they too have lost a child” and “must live the rest of their lives knowing what their child has done”.

Ted Hennessey reports:

[21 December 2023 14:00 · Tara Cobham]

Judge says it is ‘inevitable’ defendants would be named when they turn 18

In coming to her ruling to allow the unmasking of the defendants, trial judge Mrs Justice Yip also said it was “inevitable” they would be named eventually as the order banning their identification would have lapsed in 2025, when they turned 18.

“Continuing the reporting restrictions until the defendants turn 18 would, in my view, represent a substantial and unreasonable restriction on the freedom of the press,” she ruled.

[21 December 2023 13:06 · Tara Cobham]

Teenage murderers of Brianna Ghey can be named, judge rules

Murderers of teenager Brianna Ghey will be named by the media when they are sentenced, a judge has ruled.

Mrs Justice Yip ordered the press can identify the teens responsible for the “frenzied and ferocious” attack on Brianna, 16, stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back after being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of February 11.

Her killers both tried to blame each other for the stabbing but on Wednesday were both found guilty of murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court following a four week trial.

Pat Hurst reports:

[21 December 2023 12:05 · Tara Cobham]

Judge rules teenage killers can be named

Murderers of Brianna Ghey will be named by the media when they are sentenced, a judge has ruled.

Mrs Justice Yip ordered the press can identify the teenagers responsible for the “frenzied and ferocious” attack on the 16-year-old.

Her killers both tried to blame each other for the stabbing but on Wednesday were both found guilty of murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court following a four-week trial.

Throughout the trial, media had been ordered not to name the defendants, identified only as girl X and boy Y – both now aged 16 but 15 at the time.

On Thursday trial judge Mrs Justice Yip ruled an order banning identification be lifted after representations on behalf of the media made by the national news agency, PA Media and ITN. Brianna’s family supported the media application.

Lawyers for both defendants, currently held in secure youth accommodation, opposed the media application, citing the possible ramifications on their welfare and consequences for their families, including death threats received by girl Y’s family.

Mrs Justice Yip lifted the banning order but imposed a stay on the order, until the defendants are sentenced on February 2 next year, when they can then be publicly named by the media. Both face a mandatory life sentence for murder.

Mrs Justice Yip ruled: “There is a strong public interest in the full and unrestricted reporting of what is plainly an exceptional case.”

[21 December 2023 10:30 · Tara Cobham]

Brianna Ghey’s headteacher pays tribute to ‘determined and fearless’ student

The headteacher of murdered Brianna Ghey has paid tribute, describing the teenager as “determined and fearless” as the identity of her killers could today (Thursday, 21 December) be revealed.

Brianna, 16, was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times after being lured to Linear Park in Cheshire, on the afternoon of 11 February.

Her killers, identified only as girl X and boy Y – both now aged 16 but 15 at the time, had denied murder and each blamed the other for the killing of the transgender teenager.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Thursday, headteacher Emma Mills spoke of her sadness following Brianna’s death.

Lucy Leeson reports: