GUILTY UK - Brianna Ghey, 16, murdered in Culcheth Linear Park, Feb 2023 *2 teenagers charged*

[noseybonk]

Hey, dropping in again as a trans person living in the UK - if you have trans friends or family in the UK, please be kind to them, support them, and check in with them. <modsnip>

I'm thankful that guilt was found in this case. I hope that Brianna can rest in peace, and I hope that her killers receive ample rehabilitative opportunities, therapy, and support too.

 

[Skigh]

Teenage misfits who formed an unholy alliance to murder Brianna Ghey

Girl X and Boy Y, brought up in hard-working, loving families, lured Brianna Ghey to a meeting at Linear Park in Culcheth, Cheshire, under the guise of friendship, only to then stab her to death.

www.dailymail.co.uk

On the evening of February 12 police in balaclavas and body armour arrested two 15-year-olds, a boy and a girl, at their respective homes.

As the male youth was handcuffed he was informed by officers that he was being held on suspicion of killing Brianna Ghey in Cheshire the previous day.

'I can explain,' he replied.

But what became abundantly clear during the pair's four-week trial is that the brutal murder of their 16-year-old, transgender victim defied all rational explanation.

This was no inner-city street fight or gang-related killing of the sort that claims all too many teenage lives.

Girl X and Boy Y, brought up in hard-working, loving families, lured Brianna to a meeting in a village park under the guise of friendship, only to then stab her to death.

 

[Parker Knoll]

I will scroll back but I am calmed that the jury saw it for what it was.
Evil is just everywhere
It really hurts my heart.
Rest easy Brianna.

 

[Parker Knoll]

I have spent nearly 30 years as a senior criminal clerk. I have seen and pretty much heard it all. People are . Goes with the territory.
It will never change.
Some people are simply awful.

 

[MadMcGoo]

As a reminder, this case is still sub judice.

Sub judice exists until criminal proceedings are concluded, which according to the Contempt of Court 1981 Act is:

(a)by acquittal or, as the case may be, by sentence;

(b)by any other verdict, finding, order or decision which puts an end to the proceedings;

(c)by discontinuance or by operation of law;

 

[Skigh]

From the mail article linked above:


Sources close to the investigation have told the Mail that Girl X had been expelled from several schools, most recently for selling cannabis 'gummies' or sweets to pupils. She was caught after children became ill and teachers were informed.

 

[Parker Knoll]

Sentencing needs to be swift and very hard.
An absolute abomination.
Rest in peace Brianna.

 

[iamshadow21]

Verdict made the news out here in Australia.

UK teens found guilty of 'frenzied and ferocious' killing of transgender girl

The boy and girl, who were 15 at the time of the murder, spent months plotting to kill someone before the murder of Brianna Ghey in north-western England, a court hears.

www.abc.net.au

 

[mrjitty]

Now that the verdict has dropped, Jolyon Maugham KC has been able to clarify and repost his deleted tweets, including his apology to the judge. It's not clear he actually broke any rules (I don't think he did) but it was the right thing for him to delete and apologise. https://twitter.com/JolyonMaugham

The matter was also discussed on BBC Radio 4 so no longer subject to the subjudice rules now the jury's work is done. Some reporting restrictions will remain - the Judge is due to clarify today.

In any event Maugham is worth a follow and likely will have good analysis in the coming days.

Frankly the mail's coverage in particular was ghoulish, trumpeting their new podcast as the successor to their smash hit Letby effort as if a girl hadn't been murdered.

 

[Honeybirdette]

Now that the verdict has dropped, Jolyon Maugham KC has been able to clarify and repost his deleted tweets, including his apology to the judge. It's not clear he actually broke any rules (I don't think he did) but it was the right thing for him to delete and apologise. https://twitter.com/JolyonMaugham

In any event Maugham is worth a follow and likely will have good analysis in the coming days.

Frankly the mail's coverage in particular was ghoulish, trumpeting their new podcast as the successor to their smash hit Letby effort as if a girl hadn't been murdered.

Didn’t take him long to turn this tragedy into a political chess piece. Classy.

 

[Skigh]

Didn’t take him long to turn this tragedy into a political chess piece. Classy.

Unfortunately he is not the only one.

 

[mrjitty]

It's worth remembering that at trial, only admissible evidence is presented.

We got a more in-depth that usual insight into Girl X and Boy Y's thinking via the trove of texts. But there is no doubt quite a lot missing as to broader context which will now be filled in via other sources who were not witnesses at trial. It's also clear that Girl X was highly manipulative in her messages and not honest with Boy Y.

As another example, Brianna was said to be a friend of Girl X but it was not particularly clear the extent of that, nor her relationship with Boy O

 

[Dotta]

"Ex-Culture Minister Lord Vaizey says ​

'there's a public interest' ​

in naming Brianna Ghey's killers - as judge decides whether to lift anonymity of teenagers who stabbed transgender schoolgirl to death.​

Lord Vaizey said he
'wouldn't have a problem'
if the killers were named and claimed it would
'help people understand what happened'.

He also pointed out that
'a lot of people in her local community will know exactly who they are',
adding that
'if the local community know who they are why shouldn't the general public know who they are?'

The lawyers asked for time for the preparation of psychologists' reports before they are sentenced.

Mrs Justice Yip agreed, but added:
'Frankly, I don't expect them to make a huge difference to the outcome in sentencing but given their ages and the unusual circumstances of the case, I think it is right I have all the information available'.

'I'm very conscious that no doubt the family of Brianna would want this case to be concluded as soon as possible'."

Ex-Minister says 'there's public interest' in naming Brianna killers

Lord Vaizey, who served as a Minister from 2010 to 2016, appeared on GMB ahead of a judge's decision over whether to lift anonymity orders protecting the identities of the teenage killers.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[iamshadow21]

"Ex-Culture Minister Lord Vaizey says ​

'there's a public interest' ​

in naming Brianna Ghey's killers - as judge decides whether to lift anonymity of teenagers who stabbed transgender schoolgirl to death.​

Lord Vaizey said he
'wouldn't have a problem'
if the killers were named and claimed it would
'help people understand what happened'.

He also pointed out that
'a lot of people in her local community will know exactly who they are',
adding that
'if the local community know who they are why shouldn't the general public know who they are?'

The lawyers asked for time for the preparation of psychologists' reports before they are sentenced.

Mrs Justice Yip agreed, but added:
'Frankly, I don't expect them to make a huge difference to the outcome in sentencing but given their ages and the unusual circumstances of the case, I think it is right I have all the information available'.

'I'm very conscious that no doubt the family of Brianna would want this case to be concluded as soon as possible'."

Ex-Minister says 'there's public interest' in naming Brianna killers

Lord Vaizey, who served as a Minister from 2010 to 2016, appeared on GMB ahead of a judge's decision over whether to lift anonymity orders protecting the identities of the teenage killers.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I think there's a big difference between Venables and Thompson, who were primary school kids, and these two, who are on the verge of majority, even though both pairs were charged with murder of another child. Developmentally, there's a big difference between ten and fifteen. Whether that will make a difference in their sentence and anonymity remains to be seen.

MOO

 

[Alyce]

10:28Ellen Kirwin

Thursday, December 21​

Good morning from Manchester Crown Court.
The case is listed for 10.30am.
Just to remind you of the various counsel in the case.
Deanna Heer KC prosecutes, assisted by Cheryl Mottram.
Girl X is defended by Richard Pratt KC, with Sarah Holt as his junior.
Richard Littler KC and Steven Swift appear for Boy Y.
Mrs Justice Yip is presiding over the trial.

Brianna Ghey murder trial live updates as Girl X gives evidence

The 16-year-old transgender schoolgirl was fatally stabbed in a park and two teenagers are charged with her murder

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

10:34Ellen Kirwin

Justice Yip enters​

Justice Yip enters, and the hearing begins.
She will today be ruling on the application to lift reporting restrictions, which will be dealt with first.
The court will also fix a date for sentencing today.

• 10:41Ellen Kirwin
  

  Journalists addresses the judge​

  Justice Yip says: “I see there are quite a large number of the press present in court today, is there some agreement as to who might address me?”
  Ms Heer tells the judge that the application was made by ITV, but no representative of ITV is present in court.
  Pat Hurst from the Press Association instead addresses the court.
  He cites “the unusual circumstances” of the case and says that lifting the restrictions would “help public understanding of how this came about”.
  He adds: “It’s difficult to imagine a more serious case. If any case merits identification, it is this one.”

• 10:46Ellen Kirwin
  

  “The grave nature of the offence will way heavily in favour of removing restrictions"​

  The judge says she has received letters from the Cheshire youth justice service and Warrington Borough Council children’s social care on behalf of Girl X.
  She has also received notes from the director of children’s services at Wigan Council and a youth offending team worker, as well as one from a doctor, for Boy Y.
  His defence team have also submitted a note “setting out their submissions”.
  The prosecution have submitted a note setting out the legal position.
  Justice Yip says: “Essentially, the defence accept that is the correct legal position and resist the application.”
  Mr Swift says on Boy Y’s behalf: “The welfare of the defendants is the primary concern, weighed against the public interest.
  “The grave nature of the offence will way heavily in favour of removing restrictions.
  “The one feature of this case that stands out, we do have the medical diagnosis of autism and the medical complications that there have been through the course of this case.
  “If your ladyship rules in favour of removing the restrictions, I would ask your lady to consider delaying that until the date of sentence to allow the family to prepare themselves.”

Brianna Ghey murder trial live updates as Girl X gives evidence

The 16-year-old transgender schoolgirl was fatally stabbed in a park and two teenagers are charged with her murder

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

10:47Andrew Bardsley

Representations on behalf of Boy Y and Girl X​

On behalf of Boy Y, Steven Swift says he resists the application to identify the defendant.
He acknowledges the 'grave nature' of the casem, but says that the welfare of the defendant should be a 'prime consideration'.
He asks the judge that if she rules in favour of the media, whether she would consider delaying the lifting of the orders until the date of sentencing.
Sarah Holt is speaking on behalf of Girl X. She says she accepts is a 'balancing exercise' and agrees that the judge could consider delaying any possible decision until sentencing.
She notes that much of the facts have been able to be reported even with the restrictions.

10:48Andrew Bardsley

Judge addresses court​

Mrs Justice Yip says: "It seems to me that the issue I have to grapple with is the stage at which the defendants are identified."
She notes that in 2025 the defendants will turn 18.
She says that 'whatever direction I make today, they can be identified' on that date.

Brianna Ghey murder trial live updates as judge decided on naming killers

The two teenagers were found guilty on Wednesday

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

10:50Ellen Kirwin

Statement made on behalf of Girl X​

Ms Holt says on behalf of Girl X: “It’s accepted that this is a balancing exercise. Our submissions are focussed on Girl X’s welfare.
“I support Mr Swift’s suggestion that this will be dealt with finally at the sentencing hearing.
“This is a case where it has been possible to report the case entirely without identifying the defendants.”

Justice Yip says that her primary issue may be to “grapple with the stage” that reporting restrictions are lifted.
She says they will expire automatically upon the defendants’ 18th birthday in 2025 and adds: “It seems to me interest in this case may wane a little but isn’t going to disappear by 2025. If reporting was delayed to then, it may lead to a new wave of reporting in 2025.
“It seems to me that if the defendants are to be named, they ought to be prepared for it.”

Brianna Ghey murder trial live updates as Girl X gives evidence

The 16-year-old transgender schoolgirl was fatally stabbed in a park and two teenagers are charged with her murder

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

10:55Ellen Kirwin

"The interest will remain high up to and around the time of sentencing"​

Justice Yip addresses Mr Hurst: “I know that the interest is always in reporting contemporaneously. It seems to me the interest will remain high up to and around the time of sentencing.”

She asks if there are any representations on the delaying in lifting reporting restrictions.
Mr Hurst says he believes this is the “best course of action”.

Judith Moritz from the BBC asks for a “clear direction on the point at which” these reporting restrictions will be lifted.
Justice Yip says: “I would stay until the date of the sentencing hearing.”

Brianna Ghey murder trial live updates as Girl X gives evidence

The 16-year-old transgender schoolgirl was fatally stabbed in a park and two teenagers are charged with her murder

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

10:55Ellen Kirwin

Brianna's family support lifting of restrictions​

Ms Heer says of Brianna’s family: “They would support the lifting of the restrictions.
“Broadly they are in favour of lifting, but understanding of the position.”

Brianna Ghey murder trial live updates as Girl X gives evidence

The 16-year-old transgender schoolgirl was fatally stabbed in a park and two teenagers are charged with her murder

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk