Brianna Ghey’s murderers will be named, judge rules

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.”