Brianna Ghey – latest: Boy and girl appear in court charged with murder of trans teenager
Charges come as vigils held across UK to mourn loss of teenager
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Two teenagers have been remanded into youth detention after appearing at Chester Magistrates’ Court charged with the murder of Brianna Ghey.
The 15-year-old girl from Warrington, and a 15-year-old boy from Leigh, were not required to enter pleas to the charge.
Prosecutor Leanne Gallagher told the court Brianna’s death was “extremely brutal and punishing”.
Cheshire Police are exploring whether the teenager, who was a transgender girl, was the victim of a hate crime.
Detectives initially said there was no evidence to suggest the transgender teenager’s killing in Warrington, Cheshire on Saturday was “hate-related”.
Meanwhile, vigils have been held in a number of UK cities to mourn the loss of the 16-year-old.
Crowds gathered in Liverpool and Bristol on Tuesday night to pay tribute to Brianna, who was stabbed to death in a park at the weekend.
A GoFundMe appeal raising money for the teenager’s grieving family has already raised more than £70,000.
Brianna was ‘strong, fearless and one of a kind'
The family of Brianna Ghey, who was stabbed to death in a village park, have shared a heartbreaking statement.
They said: “Brianna was a much loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. She was a larger than life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her. Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless and one of a kind.
“The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same.
“We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support during this extremely difficult time. We would like to thank the police for their support, and witnesses for helping with the investigation.
“The continuation of respect for privacy is greatly appreciated.”
Trans teen claimed she was excluded from school days before death
Brianna Ghey claimed she was excluded from school just days before she was stabbed to death.
The 16-year-old, who was a transgender girl, was found by members of the public at Linear Park in Culcheth, Warrington at around 3pm on 11 February.
Just five days before her death, she posted a TikTok video with the caption: “Got excluded from school.”
It shows Brianna wearing her Birchwood Community High School uniform in her bedroom.
Floral tributes are left as police attend the scene where 16-year-old Brianna Ghey was found with multiple stab wounds on a path at Linear Park in Culcheth on Saturday in Warrington.
Two local teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of her murder.
'Quiet’ village rocked by death of Brianna Ghey
The “quiet” village where Brianna Ghey was found with multiple stab wounds has been rocked by news of her death.
One man living near to the scene in Culcheth recalled seeing several police cars enter the park on Saturday afternoon.
“You don’t think it will be anything serious,” he told Manchester Evening News.
“You see these things on the news but you don’t expect it in a quiet village like this. It’s an absolute tragedy.”
Another resident, Janet Walsh, described the atmosphere in the village in recent days as “eerie.”
“It’s unnerved the community,” she added. “It’s a big shock to us all, I just can’t believe it.”
Brianna Ghey: Teenage trans girl's final TikTok videos before she was stabbed to death in park
Briana Ghey posted a video on TikTok just hours before she was murdered.
The trans teenager had thousands of followers on the social media app and regularly posted on it.
She had a number of social media profiles and frequently posted videos on them, often miming pop songs while in her school uniform.
Brianna’s fans have also been paying tribute to her via the app.
Voices: Brianna Ghey’s death was a tragedy waiting to happen
I cannot help but feel this kind of tragedy was waiting to happen, writes Robin Moira-White. Anyone who followed the Conservative leadership contest will have seen the candidates vying with each other to stoke “debate” over trans people’s lives; and such sentiment is something I, as Britain’s only trans discrimination barrister, have to cope with every day.
Opinion: Brianna Ghey’s death was a tragedy waiting to happen
There is a dangerous precedent to stoking ‘debate’ over trans people’s lives
Trans community mourns murder of Brianna Ghey as tributes paid to TikTok star
Tributes have been paid to Brianna Ghey as trans groups and charities react to her murder.
Transgender Brianna has been mourned by her social media followers including on TikTok - where the 16-year-old was a star with a following of 31,000.
Her body was found on a path at Linear Park in Culcheth, Warrington, at 3.13pm on Saturday after she was fatally stabbed. Cheshire Police confirmed on Sunday that a boy and girl, both aged 15, were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of murder and are being questioned.
William Mata reports:
Trans community mourn murder of Brianna Ghey as tributes paid to TikTok star
‘So gorgeous. So sad to see people in the world taken too soon, and in the worst ways,’ wrote one fan
Candlelit vigils to be held for Brianna Ghey
Candlelit vigils are set to be held across the country for Brianna Ghey, who was stabbed to death in a park on Saturday.
Vigils are planned for this evening in Liverpool and Bristol, while others are expected to be held in Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds in the coming days.
Additional events – organised by the transgender community and supporters –are planned in Reading, Plymouth, Brighton, Belfast, London and York.
Donations to Brianna Ghey’s family top £65,000
Donations on a GoFundMe crowdfunding page set up for Brianna Ghey’s family have passed £65,000.
The page’s founder described the transgender teenager as “an outgoing, confident girl.”
“She brought a lot of laughter to those who knew her. She was looking forward to taking her exams this year and beginning her journey into the adult world,” Ms Potter adds.
“We have set up this page to help the family at this truly devastating time. We need your support to help them with funeral costs (we want to make this pink and colourful to match her personality) and ask if you can spare anything no matter how small to try to relieve their stress and allow them to grieve their beautiful daughter.”