One of the two teenagers accused of murdering the 16-year-old transgender girl has pleaded not guilty
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE PROVIDED BY FAMILY
On 11 February, Brianna Ghey – a 16-year-old transgender student who has been described as a “much loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister – was found fatally stabbed in Culcheth Linear Park, Cheshire.
Soon after the incident, police said they would be investigating the murder as a potential hate crime and days after two 16-year-olds were charged with her murder. For legal reasons the two suspects cannot be named, but one was a boy and one was a girl.
On 20 July, at Minshull Street Crown Court, one of the defendants entered the plea not guilty, and the other did not enter a pea, the BBC reported.
“It’s a case in which I know emotions are likely to run high, that’s very understandable. There has been a lot of publicity about it already,” Justice Yip told the court. “We’re going to make sure that this case proceeds in a calm manner in court in a way that is going to be entirely fair to everybody.”
A further hearing is due to be held on 4 October, and a trial has been set for 27 November which is expected to last three weeks.
At the time of writing, £114,291 has been raised to support Brianna’s family on GoFundMe.
After Brianna’s death, thousands of people attended candlelit vigils across the UK and left flowers in her memory.
As mourners gathered for Brianna’s funeral, her classmates paid a tribute and described her as a “true one-off, unique and truly unforgettable”. And a letter from students at her school, Birchwood Community High, was also read out.
Brianna’s grandmother spoke at the funeral, saying: “You can be whoever you want and will be accepted with love and celebration.”
During a time where anti-LGBTQIA, especially anti-trans, laws and hate crime are on the rise, we must stand together. We must stand up for trans lives. We must protect trans youth.
Mermaids offers a helpline for trans youth: 0808 801 0400. It’s open from 9am – 9pm Monday – Friday.
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