Brianna Ghey – latest: Boy and girl appear in court charged with murder of trans teenager
Charges come as vigils held across UK to mourn loss of teenager
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Two teenagers have been remanded into youth detention after appearing at Chester Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of Brianna Ghey.
The 15-year-old girl from Warrington, and a 15-year-old boy from Leigh, were not required to enter pleas to the charge.
Prosecutor Leanne Gallagher told the court Brianna’s death was “extremely brutal and punishing”.
Cheshire Police are exploring whether the teenager, who was a transgender girl, was the victim of a hate crime.
Detectives initially said there was no evidence to suggest the transgender teenager’s killing in Warrington, Cheshire on Saturday was “hate-related”.
Meanwhile, vigils have been held in a number of UK cities to mourn the loss of the 16-year-old.
Crowds gathered in Liverpool and Bristol on Tuesday night to pay tribute to Brianna, who was stabbed to death in a park at the weekend.
A GoFundMe appeal raising money for the teenager’s grieving family has already raised more than £70,000.
Labour MP urged public to ‘avoid online speculation’ that will distress Brianna’s family
Charlotte Nichols, Labour MP for Warrington North, urged the public “to come forward with any information that may assist the police, and avoid online speculation which will be distressing to Brianna’s grieving friends and family”.
Fundraiser set up to help teen’s family
A fundraiser has been set up to support Brianna Ghey’s family after she was stabbed to death in Chesire.
The campaign was organised by Victoria and Jacob Potter and has already surpassed the £15,000 mark.
“We would like to help the Ghey family who has had their beautiful daughter cruelly taken from them in the most shocking and heartbreaking way,” the GoFundMe page says.
“Brianna was an outgoing, confident girl. She brought a lot of laughter to those who knew her.
“She was looking forward to taking her exams this year and beginning her journey into the adult world.
“We have set up this page to help the family at this truly devastating time. We need your support to help them with funeral costs (we want to make this pink and colourful to match her personality) and ask if you can spare anything no matter how small to try to relieve their stress and allow them to grieve their beautiful daughter.”
GoFundMe donors pay tribute
Donors have been paying tribute to murdered teenager Brianna Ghey on a GoFundMe page set up to support her family.
“Such an awful thing to happen to such a young person, rest in peace,” one donor said.
“Brianna’s passing is devastating. I wish we could bring her back,” another said.
A third said: “This young woman looked very precious and I hope my modest donation will help her grief stricken family and friends.”
Brianna’s headteacher ‘truly devastated'
The headteacher at Brianna‘s school, Birchwood Community High School, said they were “truly devastated” by her death.
In a statement, Emma Mills said: “We are shocked and truly devastated to hear of the death of Brianna.
“This is understandably a very difficult and distressing time for many and we will do our utmost to support our pupils and wider school community.”
Family’s tribute in full
“Brianna was a much loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. She was a larger than life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her. Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless and one of a kind.
“The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same.
“We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support during this extremely difficult time. We would like to thank the police for their support, and witnesses for helping with the investigation.
“The continuation of respect for privacy is greatly appreciated.”
What have police said?
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said police are pursuing several lines of inquiry, as two 15-year-olds remain in custody after being arrested on suspicion of stabbing Brianna to death.
He said: “A number of inquiries in relation to this incident are under way and we are doing all that we can to establish the exact circumstances of what has happened.
“At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the circumstances surrounding Brianna’s death are hate-related.
“Patrols have been stepped up in the local area and officers will remain in the Culcheth area to provide reassurance and address any concerns that residents may have.
“I would ask anyone who has any information, no matter how big or small, that they believe could help with our investigation to get in touch.
“We are also keen for people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation.”
Teenager’s last TikTok posts
The tragic last videos of Brianna show the teenager walking happily in a park just weeks before she was murdered.
In her final TikTok posts, the 16-year-old can be seen talking to the camera while walking through a park, believed to be filmed in the same one where the attack took place.
Brianna Ghey’s final TikTok videos before trans teenager was stabbed to death in park
The tragic last videos of Brianna Ghey show the teenager walking happily in a park just weeks before she was murdered. Her heartbroken family released a statement on Monday, saying the attack has left “a massive hole” in their lives. In her final TikTok posts, 16-year-old Brianna can be seen talking to the camera while walking through a park, believed to be filmed in the same one where the attack took place. Another video shows the teenager playing with her dogs, while a famous quote from 13 Reasons Why: “I’m giving life one last try” is heard dubbed over the top. Brianna’s body was found on a path at Linear Park in Culcheth, Warrington, on Saturday 11 February. A local boy and girl, both 15, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Local people ‘in shock'
Those living and working locally in the village of Culcheth in Warrington are in shock after the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey.
“It’s not good, it’s sad. It’s just so unnecessary, she was so young,” Dianne Nicholson, who works in a newsagents close to where Ms Ghey was attacked in Linear Park, told the Liverpool Echo.
The local spoke of the shock felt by everyone that the attack had happened in broad daylight, adding that “it’s what everyone is talking about” and the mood in the village is “sombre”.
Latest after 16-year-old Brianna Ghey stabbed to death
We are bringing you the latest after a 16-year-old girl was stabbed to death in a park in broad daylight at the weekend.
Brianna Ghey was found by members of the public at Linear Park in Culcheth, Warrington at around 3pm on 11 February.
Brianna was a transgender girl but police investigating her death say there is no evidence to suggest the murder was a hate crime.
A boy and girl, both aged 15, have been arrested on suspicion of her murder.
Cheshire Police said in their latest statement on Monday: “Whilst this is being investigated as a targeted attack and Brianna was a trans girl, we do not at this time believe it was a hate crime.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said police are pursuing several lines of inquiry and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
He said: “We are doing all that we can to establish the exact circumstances of what has happened.
“At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the circumstances surrounding Brianna’s death are hate related.
“Patrols have been stepped up in the local area and officers will remain in the Culcheth area to provide reassurance and address any concerns that residents may have.
“I would ask anyone who has any information, no matter how big or small, that they believe could help with our investigation to get in touch.
“We are also keen for people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation.”
Local mother says kids are ‘shocked’
A mother who lives locally said children are shocked and upset by what has happened to Brianna Ghey.
Maxine Dalton, who says she has a 15-year-old who goes to Culcheth High School, told the Liverpool Echo: “We’re just shocked. It’s a quiet little village and for something to happen like that is horrendous. It’s a local walking spot, a lot of people go walking down there.”
Ms Dalton said it’s “heartbreaking” that this has happened to a child and the village is shaken up.
She said it’s “shocked the kids” adding that it’s “horrible”.
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