Jurors retire to consider verdicts in Brianna Ghey murder trial

Jurors have retired to consider their verdicts in the Brianna Ghey murder trial. Brianna, 16, a transgender girl, died after being stabbed 28 times in a park near Warrington earlier this year, jurors at Manchester Crown Court have heard.

She was found by dog walkers in Linear Park in Culcheth at around 3pm on Saturday, February 11. Her bloodied body was found face down in mud, having been stabbed to the head, neck, back and chest.

Two teenagers, Girl X, from Culcheth, and Boy Y, from Leigh, deny the murder of the 16-year-old. The two defendants, both aged 16, cannot be named for legal reasons.

READ MORE: Prosecutors argue plan to kill Brianna Ghey is 'all there in black and white' while defence argue Girl X lived in 'make believe land'

READ MORE: Boy accused of Brianna Ghey murder was 'an extra' in a tragedy scripted and directed by girl co-accused, jurors are told

Both have blamed the other for the killing. During the fourth week of the trial, jurors were sent out to deliberate on their verdicts at 10.08am.

Jurors have heard that the defendants had discussed killing Brianna prior to her death. Girl X admitted having 'dark fantasies' which she shared with Boy Y, but denied that she wanted to turn 'fantasy into reality'.

A handwritten note was recovered from her bedroom which was headed: “Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey." It read: "Meet Boy Y at wooden posts at 1pm. Walk down to library…bus stop. Wait until Brianna gets off the bus and then the 3 of us walk to Linear Park.

"Go to the pipe/tunnel area. I say code word to Boy Y. He stabs her in the back as I stab her in the stomach. Boy Y drags the body into the area. We both cover up the area with logs etc."

Brianna's body was found by dog walkers, with