The two teenagers’ identities have been revealed as the pair are sentenced to life
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY CHESHIRE POLICE/PROVIDED
On 11 February 2023 Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe took the life of 16-year-old trans girl Brianna Ghey, both Scarlett and Eddie were 15 at the time and are now 16. Throughout their trial, the two teenagers were referred to as “Girl X” and “Boy Y”, however they have now been named by Mrs Justice Yip after the anonymity order that prevented the media from revealing their identities was lifted due to the serious nature of their crimes.
The BBC reported that the defendants’ legal team have opposed the names being revealed and cited concerns for the teens’ welfare and death threats received by Scarlett’s family. Before sentencing Brianna’s killers Justice Yip said it was not “straightforward” and that both of the defendants’ “interest in sadistic activity” and anti-trans hostility would factor into their sentence.
Addressing the two teenagers who took Brianna’s life, Justice Yip warned that they may “never be released” if they are seen as a danger. While both Scarlett and Eddie played a part in the murder, she acknowledged that Scarlett was “the driving force”. While Eddie’s lawyers argued that Brianna’s trans identity was “immaterial”, and that he was assisting Scarlett, the judge was satisfied Eddie could hold anti-trans views on his own.
Scarlett was sentenced to a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years minus the 352 days she has already been in remand. Eddie was also given a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years minus the 352 days he had also been in remand.
It has been revealed that Scarlett prepared a handwritten note detailing her plans for how she and Eddie would murder Brianna. The attack took place in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington and resulted in Brianna being stabbed 28 times. Brianna’s name was on a “kill list” with four other teenagers that the two had created.
In his victim impact statement, Brianna’s father Peter Spooner described Scarlett and Eddie as “pure evil”.
“I cannot call them children because that makes them sound naive or vulnerable, which they are not – they are pure evil. Brianna was the vulnerable one,” he said.
As they have been since February 2023, our thoughts go out to Brianna’s family, loved ones, friends, and classmates. And they will continue to.
At the time of writing, 2 February, the GoFundMe that was set up in Brianna’s memory has surpassed its target of £50,000. You can donate here.
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
✨linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine ✨
