Chilling images of murder weapon and note after Brianna Ghey's murder

Two teenagers have been found guilty of her murder

Plan to kill Brianna
Published 20th Dec 2023

A boy and a girl have been found guilty by a jury of the "disturbing" murder of teenager Brianna Ghey, who died in a "frenzied and ferocious" knife attack.

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

The pair, 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, described as "horrific" by detectives.

Murder weapon used on Brianna Ghey

Intelligent, "high functioning" and coming from normal backgrounds, the trial heard the pair had a fascination for violence, torture and murder and had a "thirst for killing".

Neither had been in trouble with police before.

They were discussing Brianna's murder for weeks, detailed in a handwritten murder plan and phone messages found by detectives.

A jury of seven men and five women convicted the two following a four-week trial at Manchester Crown Court after four hours and 40 minutes of deliberations.

Brianna had thousands of followers on TikTok, but in reality was a withdrawn, shy and anxious teenager who struggled with depression and rarely left her home.

Brianna suffered 28 stab wounds, 14 to her head and neck, 14 to her chest, back and sides.

'Tribute' left by Brianna's murderer

The blade cut her throat, puncturing her heart and lungs and the blows were delivered with enough force to damage the bones of her ribs, vertebrae and sternum.

Kathryn Vize and her husband Andrew were out walking their dogs and saw the two stood over something on the ground.

They ran away as Mrs Vize got closer and realised what was before her.

"It's an absolute mess," she told the 999 operator to summon help.

"Oh God! Oh God! Are they coming quickly? It's a nightmare."

Note planning to kill Brianna

Detectives found the murder weapon with Brianna's blood on the blade in boy Y's bedroom, along with heavily blood-stained clothing and trainers.

At girl X's home they found a handwritten note detailing the murder plan and naming Brianna as the victim.

The gruesome murder of a transgender teenager in a public park prompted candlelit vigils worldwide protesting against perceived transphobia.

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