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Brianna Ghey’s murderers will be named, judge rules
The pair will be sentenced in February next year
A judge has ruled that Brianna Ghey’s murderers, Girl X and Boy Y, are to be named when they are sentenced next year.
The 16-year-old, who was transgender, was found lying on a path with multiple stab wounds in Culcheth Linear Park, in Cheshire, on February 11th.
Brianna was stabbed 28 times in a ‘sustained and violent’ attack inflicted with ‘considerable force’ to her head, chest, back and neck.
Two teenagers, both now aged 16 and known as Girl X and Boy Y, were found guilty of Brianna’s murder on Wednesday (December 20th) in an 18-day trial held at Manchester Crown Court.
The trial’s judge, Mrs Justice Yip, heard arguments both for and against naming the teenagers after they were found guilty.
Legal restrictions currently in place prevent them both from being named due to their age.
A court order, made under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, means the media are not permitted to publish any details which could lead to the two defendants being identified.
Lawyers for both defendants, who are currently being held in secure youth accommodation, opposed a media application to name them citing the possible legal ramifications on their welfare.
They also raised concerns over the potential consequences for their families, including death threats received by Girl X’s family.
At a court hearing held on Thursday December 21st, Mrs Justice Yip said she was in favour of removing the restrictions, however, the order would only be lifted on the day of their sentencing.
Girl X and Boy Y are due to be sentenced on February 2nd, 2024, at Manchester Crown Court.
“The public will naturally wish to know the identities of the young people responsible as they seek to understand how children could do something so dreadful,” Mrs Justice Yip said.
“Continuing restrictions inhibits full and informed debate and restricts the full reporting of the case.”
She accepted that naming the two teenagers would ‘cause distress to their families’ but said that it was not the purpose of the order to protect the families of those convicted.
Coming to the decision, Mrs Justice Yip also said it was ‘inevitable’ the two teens would be named eventually as the order banning their identification would run out in 2025, when they turn 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.
Mrs Justice Yip added: “Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, expressly called for empathy and compassion to be extended to the parents of the defendants.
“That showed remarkable fortitude and humanity. Those who have seen the defendants’ parents in court over the last few weeks will recognise their suffering.
“Anyone who is tempted to direct vitriol or malice towards the defendants’ families would do well to recognise that they would be acting against the express wishes of Brianna’s bereaved mother.”
Anyone who names the teenagers before the sentencing hearing could be found in contempt of court and face being prosecuted.
Following the verdict, Brianna’s mother Esther said the pair had not shown an ‘ounce of remorse’ throughout the whole trial and that she had lost ‘all sympathy’ for them.
In a statement given outside the court house, she added: “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: “My heart bleeds every day for Brianna, and this will never go away – and the amount of guilt I have can sometimes be unbearable.
“But I will ensure her memory lives on in my thoughts and dreams.”
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Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
News
More human remains discovered in Greater Manchester as police identify victim
All the latest updates
Detectives investigating the discovery of a torso in Kersal Dale have found more human remains around Greater Manchester.
GMP released a statement on the weekend, revealing they had opened four scenes for extensive searches – one of them at a warehouse in Bury, and three in Salford.
Searches took place at Blackleach reservoir, where human remains were found, and a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood.
Officers believe they have now identified the man, who they believe to be a man in his 60s that lived in Salford, and his family have been informed.
Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder probe, with officers saying they are thought to have lived with the victim.
Greater Manchester Police / Facebook
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for this investigation, said in a statement at Blackleach reservoir yesterday, Sunday April 28th: “We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.
“From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.
“Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford.
“Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.
“We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.”
He continued: “We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.
“Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
“We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.
“While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”
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