'Beyond our worst nightmare,' say family of Brianna Ghey's killer Scarlett Jenkinson as they apologize for her crimes
THE FAMILY of a teenage girl in prison the gruesome murder of Brianna Ghey broke their silence.
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were only 15 years old when they hatched a gruesome plan stabbed the helpless Brianna 28 times with a knife.
5
5
5
5
The 16-year-old schoolgirl was lured to Linear Park Warringtonin February last year by the sadistic couple – who are now both 16.
Now Scarlett's family have told how their “thoughts are with Brianna and her family”.
In a statement to the Warrington Guardian, they said: “The past twelve months have put our worst nightmares behind us as we have come to realize the brutal truth of Scarlett's actions.
We agree with the jury's verdict, the judge's verdict and the decision to name the perpetrators.
“Our lives are in turmoil, but our immediate focus is to ensure we do nothing that conflicts with the wishes of Brianna's family.
They added: “We express our sincere gratitude to Esther Ghey for her incredible selflessness and empathy for our family. Her compassion is overwhelming and we are eternally grateful to her.
“To all of Brianna's family and friends, our community and everyone else affected by this horror, we are truly sorry.”
Jenkinson and Ratcliffe have now been named by a judge, for which the pair were today jailed for life murder.
Previous reporting restrictions meant the killers could only be referred to as Girl X and Boy Y at their trial.
Jenkinson remained emotionless as she was given a minimum of 22 years, while Ratcliffe stared straight ahead and was told he would have to spend at least 20 years in prison.
At sentencing, Judge Yip said the murder was “brutal” and “sadistic” and that a secondary motive was Brianna's transgender identity.
The judge added: “Brianna was only 16 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her.
“This case is unusual and has shocked the public.”
Manchester Crown Court was told that Jenkinson, who had a “deep desire to kill”, admitted for the first time that she had stabbed Brianna herself.
The sadistic killer, who was still on a “death list” in a secure accommodation, told her lawyers she had “grabbed” her co-killer's knife and slashed her “repeatedly”.
It can now be revealed that Jenkinson, whose parents were both teachers, was expelled from Culceth High School over a drugs incident.
Ratcliffe, meanwhile, is the son of a truck company manager father and a ski instructor mother.
He previously competed in the 2018 World Amateur Kickboxing Championships in Jamaica.
It comes as:
The intelligent killer passed eight GCSEs while in custody and has since studied for A-levels in physics, biology, chemistry, maths and English literature.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Brianna's mother, Esther Ghey, said she believes the couple remain a danger to society.
The mother added: “I don't believe someone so disturbed and obsessed with murder and torture could ever be rehabilitated.
“I have moments where I feel sorry for them because they ruined their own lives too, but I have to remember that they felt no empathy for Brianna when they left her bleeding after their premeditated and brutal attack, which was carried out not because Brianna had done something wrong, but just because one person hated trans people and the other thought it would be fun.”
While Brianna's father described her killers as “some monsters” who “need to be forgotten.”
5