Brianna Ghey news - live: Scarlett Jenkinson’s family breaks silence as teen jailed with Eddie Ratcliffe
Two teenagers jailed for life for transphobic and sadistic killing of 16-year-old
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The family of teenager killer Scarlett Jenkinson has broken their silence as they said they have been living out their “worst nightmares”.
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe stabbed 16-year-old Brianna Ghey 28 times with a hunting knife in a horrific attack on 11 February last year after luring her to Linear Park near Warrington.
The judge at Manchester Crown Court said the “exceptionally brutal” murder had elements of sadism by Jenkinson and transphobic hate by Ratcliffe.
Saying their lives were “in turmoil”, Jenkinson’s family thanked Brianna‘s mother Esther Ghey for her “incredible selflessness and empathy towards our family”.
In a statement to the Warrington Guardian, Scarlett Jenkinson’s family said: “All of our thoughts are for Brianna and her family.
“The last 12 months have been beyond our worst nightmares as we have come to realise the brutal truth of Scarlett’s actions.”
The four-week trial heard the pair, who were 15, had a fascination with violence, torture and serial killers, with Jenkinson wanting to keep a part of Brianna’s flesh as a “token”.
Jenkinson was jailed for a minimum term of 22 years, and Ratcliffe 20.
Brianna subjected to ‘sustained and very violent assault'
The court has heard that Brianna was subjected to a “sustained and very violent assault”, which led to 28 deep stab wounds across her head and body.
They included defensive injuries to her arms which showed she had tried to defend herself.
“Sadly, Brianna cannot have lost consciousness immediately and she must have been aware she was being attacked,” Mrs Justice Yip said.
'Both of you played full part in killing Brianna,' judge tells defendants
A judge has told Brianna Ghey’s murderers that they both “played a full part” in the killing of the teenager as she sentences the pair.
Speaking at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Mrs Justice Yip told the defendants: “I sentence you on the basis that both of you played a full part in killing Brianna and both intended that she shall die.”
She described Brianna’s murder as a “joint plan that you carried out together”.
The judge also condemned both for “telling lies to the jury”.
Jenkinson blurs lines between fantasy and real life
Mrs Justice Yip is now addressing the defendants, saying both told lies to the jury during the trial.
Turning to Scarlett Jenkinson, Mrs Justice Yip tells her that she’s changed her story but admitted that she enjoyed her part in the murder of Brianna and that she “blurs the lines between fantasy and real life”.
She added that the case had “shocked the public”.
Motivation for murder was a ‘deep-rooted desire to kill'
“The primary motivation for Brianna’s murder was your deep-rooted desire to kill,” Mrs Justice Yip told Jenkinson.
Describing the murder as “exceptionally brutal”, she added: “Your actions after the event confirm you enjoyed the killing. Taking all that evidence into account, this was a murder involving sadistic conduct.”
Despite not being the driving force, she said that it would be “wholly wrong” to suggest Ratcliffe was under Jenkinson’s control. “I am satisfied that you are quite capable of holding your own views,” the judge said.
Ratcliffe 'saw murder plans as a project'
The court heard that the pair had been “good friends” since they were 11 years old, and Ratcliffe had been “able to question Scarlett and say no to helping when it did not suit you”.
“In some ways Scarlett looked up to you - she saw you as cleverer than her,” the judge said.
However, Jenkinson was able to help Ratcliffe socially, particularly with talking to a girl he liked.
The judge noted that Ratcliffe had “displayed hostility” towards Brianna due to her being transgender, and had sent “unpleasant messages” that were transphobic. He regularly had used dehumanised Brianna by frequently referring to her as “it”.
Brianna was killed with ‘exceptional brutality'
Mrs Justice Yip said Jenkinson had “enjoyed” killing Brianna.
She continued: “Scarlett, your motivation was to act out your fantasies.
“Brianna’s injuries showed she was killed with exceptional brutality. This was a murder involved sadistic conduct.
“You both took part in a brutal and planned murder which was sadistic in nature and a secondary motivation was hostility to Brianna because of her transgender identity.”
Jenkinson and Ratcliffe jailed for life for Brianna's murder
A judge has jailed Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe for life for the murder of Brianna Ghey.
Passing sentence at Manchester Crown Court on Friday, judge Mrs Justice Yip set Jenkinson’s minimum term at 22 years and Ratcliffe’s at 20 years.
The 322 days both have spent on remand will be taken off their total sentences.
Both killers participated in a ‘sadistic’ murder
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe both took part in a “brutal, planned murder” which was “sadistic in nature,” the judge said.
Mrs Justice Yip said it is “plain this was murder of particularly high seriousness” and the part both teenagers played led to the starting point of 20 years.
She noted that it was motivated partly by hostility towards Brianna because of her transgender identity.
Justice Yip says she is also keeping in mind their young age, and told them they “must be sentenced with the hope, if not the immediate expectation, that you can one day be rehabilitated - however cruel that may seem to those who have lost a loved one”.
Crown Prosecution Service to give statement
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service is due to give a statement outside Manchester Crown Court shortly.
Watch moment Brianna Ghey’s murderers Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe sentenced to life in prison
Watch moment Brianna Ghey’s murderers sentenced to life in prison
This is the moment Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe are sentenced for the murder of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. Jenkinson and Ratcliffe stabbed the transgender teenager 28 times with a hunting knife in a horrific attack on 11 February 2023 after luring her to Linear Park near Warrington. Known as Girl X and Boy Y during their trial, they were named after Mrs Justice Yip ruled that their anonymity order could be lifted given the harrowing nature of their crimes. Jenkinson was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison, and Ratcliffe a minimum term of 20 years, when they appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Friday (2 February).
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