28 November 2023 , 13:45
1181
0
A teenage girl accused of murdering schoolgirl Brianna Ghey posted a tribute to her on Snapchat describing her death as "f***ing sickening", a court has heard.
The defendant, who can be named only as Girl X for legal reasons, also called 16-year-old Brianna an "amazing friend", prosecutors told a trial on Tuesday. The 16-year-old defendant and a boy, also aged 16 and named as Boy Y, have both denied murdering Brianna at Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, Cheshire, in February this year.
Brianna was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in her head, chest, back and neck and died of her injuries, the court heard on the second day of the trial. A prosecutor said her body was discovered by two dog walkers at about 3pm on the afternoon of February 11.
Deanna Heer KC said girl X lied to her mother and, as a result, her mother called police at about 5pm the day after the murder. Ms Heer said: "Girl X was with her at the time she called the police and told the police operator that they had been sitting on a bench in the park when Brianna looked at her phone and said she needed to meet some boy, a 17-year-old from Manchester who was going to meet her in his car.
Brianna was stabbed to death 28 times (Cheshire Police)"She said Brianna just stormed off and that was the last time she saw her." The court heard girl X later messaged boy Y, repeating the story she had told police and telling him: "Make sure story adds up."
Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities
Girl X then posted a tribute to Brianna on Snapchat, Manchester crown court heard. Ms Heer added: "Meanwhile, boy Y, his internet history shows, was online using the Crown Prosecution Service website, looking at Data Protection Act offences and penalties for supplying or withholding information. He was looking up information about measures to support people giving evidence and bail."
A court order prevents the identification of either defendant, who were both 15 at the time of the killing. At the start of their trial the jury of seven men and five women were told they had made plans to kill other children before killing Brianna.
It was also heard that Girl X liked to watch "dark web" torture videos and had become "obsessed" with Brianna, a transgender teenager. Ms Heer told the court Brianna had suffered a "sustained and violent assault" with a male and a female both seen running away from the scene, who she said were the defendants.
The jury was told each defendant denied murder and denied participating in killing Brianna. Ms Heer said: "Each blames the other. The prosecution case is that whoever it was who delivered the fatal blow or blows, both defendants are equally guilty. Acting together, they planned and executed their plan to kill Brianna Ghey."
Girl X and Boy Y both deny murder. The trial continues.