Brianna Ghey trial verdict: Teenagers found guilty of murder

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

Two teenagers have been found guilty of murdering schoolgirl Brianna Ghey in a frenzied killing that was weeks in the planning.

Brianna, 16, was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife by the two callous teens, who she believed to be her friends but who had been planning the horrifying attack in meticulous detail behind her back.

The pair, identified only as Girl X and Boy Y, both now aged 16 but 15 at the time, attempted to blame each other and were described as warped and obsessed with murder by detectives during a harrowing four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Jurors were told that the pair lured her to an area of woodland in Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, Cheshire, in February.

They heard the pair had a fascination for violence, torture and murder and had planned Brianna’s killing for weeks, detailed in a handwritten murder plan and phone messages found by detectives.

Brianna Ghey was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back on the afternoon of 11 February (PA Media)

After a jury of seven men and five women convicted the two within five hours, the defendants are both facing mandatory jail terms for life. Trial judge Ms Justice Yip is yet to confirm the sentencing date.

Outside court, Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, said she was glad the two would spend many years in prison.

She said: “Prior to the trial, I have had moments where I felt sorry for the defendants because they have ruined their own lives as well as ours.

“But now, knowing the true nature of the two and seeing neither display an ounce of remorse for what they have done to Brianna, I have lost any sympathy that I previously had for them, and I am glad that they will spend many years in prison and away from society.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans, head of crime at Cheshire Police, said: “I’m not sure fun is the word, but I think they killed her because they wanted to prove that they could, or that sort of thirst for killing. I don’t think there was any motive behind it so possibly, fun? Enjoyment is the right word.”

The murder weapon used to stab Brianna Ghey to death (Cheshire Police)

Mr Evans also branded the killers arrogant for believing they would not be caught as Girl X claimed the local police were “shite”.

Deputy chief crown prosecutor Ursula Doyle, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “This has been one of the most distressing cases I have ever dealt with. The planning, the violence and the age of the killers is beyond belief. Brianna Ghey was subjected to a frenzied and ferocious attack and was stabbed 28 times in broad daylight, in a public park.

“Girl X and Boy Y appear to have been a deadly influence on each other and turned their dark fantasies about murder into a reality. The extensive messages between the two, planning and plotting to kill people, talking of murder, torture and cruelty, were difficult to read. The messages provided a terrifying insight into the minds of the two defendants – but also revealed the detailed planning of their attack and subsequent attempts to cover it up.”

A boy and a girl have been found guilty of the brutal murder of teenager Brianna (PA Media)

Boy Y has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and is non-verbal and girl X has traits of autism and ADHD. Both were described as intelligent, “high functioning” and coming from normal backgrounds.

Neither defendant, who each sat next to a social worker while six security staff stood filling the dock, made any visible reaction as the jury foreman delivered the guilty verdicts.

Boy Y’s mother’s head slumped down onto the shoulder of a friend who sat beside her and began crying uncontrollably.

Girl X, wearing a pinafore-style dress, spoke to her social worker and glanced at her parents leaving the courtroom. Boy Y, who avoids all eye contact, did not look over at his mother as he was led from the dock carrying his sudoku puzzles book.

Following the convictions, Brianna’s mother Esther Ghey told the BBC her daughter was ‘fearless to be whoever she wanted to be’ (Reuters)

The judge thanked jurors for their service on an “extremely difficult and, at times, distressing case”, excusing them from further jury service. She said: “You probably didn’t anticipate sitting on a case as emotionally difficult as this one.”

Ms Doyle added: “I want to thank Brianna’s family for the courage and dignity that they have shown throughout this case. I hope today’s verdict brings some solace, and our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”

Speaking outside court following the convictions on Wednesday, Brianna’s mother Esther Ghey paid tribute to her daughter as “larger than life, funny witty and fearless”.

People leave floral tributes near the scene where 16-year-old Brianna Ghey was found with multiple stab wounds (Getty)

She said: “We miss Brianna so much, and our house feels empty without her laughter.

“To know how scared my usually fearless child must have been when she was alone in that park with someone that she called her friend will haunt me forever.”

Brianna’s father, Peter Spooner, said he was “so proud” of his daughter and would never stop loving her.

He added: “It is impossible to put into words how the murder of my child has affected me.

“I never stopped loving her and I never will. When she was little I remember the faces she would pull to make me laugh. The cheeky giggle, the funny dances are engraved in my memory. I knew she was going to be a star and the amount of support she received from the followers on TikTok proved this. I was so proud of what she could do.”

Police forensics officers at the scene in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire, following the murder of Brianna Ghey (PA)

Nigel Parr, senior investigating officer from Cheshire Police, said Brianna Ghey had been “betrayed”.

He added: “This was a senseless murder committed by two teenagers who have an obsession with murder. Brianna was a teenager who had her whole life ahead of her. Brianna trusted the female defendant, she was betrayed by someone she called her friend.”

Paying tribute to her family, he said: “I would like to thank the family of Brianna for having the courage to come to court and find out what happened to her. They have remained dignified and strong throughout proceedings.”

Ahead of the trial, Ms Ghey had told The Independent: “She was very, very outgoing. A very high energy, funny, quick-witted child.”

Police attend the scene where 16-year-old Brianna Ghey was found with multiple stab wounds (Getty)

Brianna’s headteacher said the teenager “didn’t live her life as a victim”, telling the BBC: “There was never any evidence of Brianna being bullied within school or out of school. Brianna was very much able to give as good as she got in that way.

“And I think what was really hard was that she was portrayed in the media as a victim and she didn’t live her life as a victim. She was someone that was loud and proud and confident in who she was.”

In the days following her death, hundreds of mourners joined vigils across the UK to remember the teenager. Some of those gathered in Warrington wore rainbow flags draped across their shoulders, laid flowers and wrote tributes on a placard that was placed in the town square.

Tearful family and friends paid their last respects at Brianna’s funeral, which was pink-themed, in keeping with the teenager’s colourful personality (PA)

The Labour MP for Warrington North, Charlotte Nichols, said the local community had been left “reeling”.

Speaking at the vigil, she added: “Trans lives matter and trans young people should have the fundamental rights to dignity and safety that should be universal human rights.”

Tearful family and friends paid their last respects at Brianna’s funeral, which was pink-themed, in keeping with the teenager’s colourful personality.

Prayers were said, asking for “the courage to love one another”, and saying Brianna will “endure no more suffering … you can be whatever you want”. Her mother wore a pink trouser suit, while Brianna’s pink coffin was borne in a carriage drawn by two white horses festooned in pink plumes.

The 16-year-old’s dream was to become famous on TikTok, and she loved to do make-up tutorials for her more than 31,000 followers on the social media platform.