Teenager denies she wanted to kill Brianna Ghey because she was transgender

A teenager accused of murdering Brianna Ghey has told a jury that she did not want to kill the schoolgirl because she was transgender.

Girl X, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies murder after Brianna was found stabbed to death in a woodland park in Culcheth, near Warrington, Cheshire, on 11 February.

Another 16-year-old, Boy Y, also denies murder, with the defendants blaming each other for the killing.

The two are standing trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Giving evidence for a third day in the witness box, Girl X was asked about her claim that Boy Y did not like transgender people.

Asked by prosecutor Deanna Heer KC to explain the claim, Girl X told the court: “I’m not exactly sure what the problem was, I just know that he didn’t agree with people that were trans and a lot of people that were gay.”

Girl X agreed that in December last year she sent pictures to Boy Y of Brianna, knowing that he didn’t like trans people.

Asked why she did that she said: “Because I wanted to show him what she looked like.

“He was the only person I could open up to about Brianna.

“I knew that even though he didn’t like people who were trans he would be quite understanding.

“And I sent him the pictures of Brianna because I did find her quite attractive.”

Undated family handout photo issued by Cheshire Police of Brianna Ghey. Two teenagers will go on trial at Manchester Crown Court on Minday accused of the murder of the transgender teenager. Brianna, 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington, Cheshire, shortly after 3pm on Saturday February 11 earlier this year. Issue date: Monday November 27, 2023. PA Photo. A girl and a boy, both aged 15 at the time and from the local area, were arrested and charged with the murder of Brianna, a pupil at Birchwood High School, Warrington. See PA story COURTS Warrington. Photo credit should read: Family handout/Cheshire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. — Brianna Ghey, 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington, Cheshire (Photo: Family handout/Cheshire Police/PA)

Asked why in January of the next year she had started fantasising about killing Brianna, Girl X said: “I’m not sure, it kind of happens with random people I know.

“Even if I have a good relationship with people, I just get random thoughts like that even though there’s no intent, I don’t know where it comes from.”

Girl X denied that she wanted to kill Brianna because she was transgender.

“Did you think she was prettier than you?” Ms Heer asked.

“In a way yes,” Girl X replied.

The court heard Girl X knew Brianna had been bullied at school because she was transgender, had a history of self-harming and suffered from depression.

“Was she quite a vulnerable person,” Ms Deer asked.

“Yes,” Girl X replied.

“Did you think that Brianna would be an easy person to kill?” Ms Deer asked.

“Possibly yeah,” Girl X replied.

Girl X said she shared her fantasy of killing Brianna with Boy Y because she believed he was “trustworthy” and also had “dark thoughts” and would therefore be “understanding”.

The trial, which is due to last up to four weeks at Manchester Crown Court, continues.

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