Accused killers blame each other for stabbing teen Brianna Ghey to death
The teenagers accused of the ‘"frenzied" stabbing of Brianna Ghey have blamed each other for the killing of the transgender 16-year-old.
The questioning of youngsters, identified only as Girl X and Boy Y, resumed at Manchester Crown Court following the death of Brianna, who was knifed 28 times after allegedly being lured to Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, Cheshire in February. On day 13 of the murder trial, Boy Y was cross-examined.
Both defendants, now aged 16 but 15 at the time, deny murder and claim the other killed Brianna. Yesterday, the court heard Girl X had sent messages to Brianna after she died to cover herself, and was told she had an "interest in serial killers". Today, with the trial in its third week, Boy Y gave evidence by typing on a keyboard in the courtroom. His words then appeared on a screen.
Brianna was knifed 28 times after allegedly being lured to Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington (Getty Images)On Tuesday, Girl X took to the stand and said Boy Y stabbed Brianna "five or six" times. She said this happened while Brianna was standing up and on the ground. The jury has previously been shown what the prosecution claims was a handwritten "murder plan" found in her bedroom. The court has also seen text messages sent between them, which allegedly detailed how they would entice the victim to the park and kill her.
His barrister Richard Littler today asked Boy Y: "Did you see or hear something while you were having a wee?" to which he replied: "Yes, I heard rustling like with clothes, and a thud, as well as a sound I would describe as a puncturing sound. I assumed something had been dropped on the floor after someone was moving about and I just thought the puncture was like a different sound to the decompression of a fizzy drink."
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Mr Littler said: "Did you look to see what the sound might be?" He responded: "I saw Girl X stabbing Brianna Ghey." Asked how many times, he replied: “At least three times, however, I wasn’t trying to count.” He told the court he walked towards Brianna and saw blood, which was “everywhere” on the floor.
The barrister earlier asked boy Y: “Did you stab Brianna?” He simply replied: “No.” He says he saw his co-accused carrying out the deadly attack using his own knife, which Girl Y had "asked him to bring" to the park. He said he gave the knife to girl X, who put it in her waistband. Boy Y later denied any animosity towards Brianna because she was transgender.
Brianna's body was discovered by dog walkers at after she was stabbed 28 times (MEN Media)He was then cross-examined by Richard Pratt KC, Girl X's barrister. He asked the co-defendant: "You talked about how you would, with Girl X, carry out killings. Did you like to do that?" Boy Y said: "No, but I was asked a question by her therefore I must come up with a solution." He was then asked: Did you ever say to Girl X, 'I don't want to do this?'" The boy replied: "No, I'm unable to say no unless I'm pushed to my limit which is very hard because I'm very tolerant and very patient."
Junior counsel Mr Swift yesterday read some agreed facts on this topic. He said: “Since his arrest, Boy Y has been diagnosed by psychologists with autistic spectrum disorder. Features of his ASD together with anxiety impact his presentation and communication skills.
“Although Boy Y has a good overall understanding of language, following his remand he gradually stopped speaking to anyone apart from his mother. He has since been diagnosed with selective mutism. Boy Y’s silence is not a matter of choice. His verbal challenges are beyond his personal control.”
The judge in the trial is Mrs Justice Amanda Yip. The trial, which is expected to last for about three weeks, opened on Monday, November 27. The prosecution is led by Deanna Heer KC and Cheryl Mottram. Girl X is represented by Richard Pratt KC and Sarah Holt, while Boy Y is represented by Richard Littler KC and Steven Swift.
The trial continues.
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