Two 15-year-olds have been remanded into custody after appearing in court charged with the murder of transgender teenager Brianna Ghey. The 16-year-old was found stabbed to death in a Warrington park on Saturday afternoon.
The teenagers, a girl from Warrington and a boy from Leigh, appeared separately at Chester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Both cannot be named due to their age. District Judge John McGarva refused bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations, and ordered them to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.
Cheshire Constabulary has urged the public to avoid speculation online, noting that the Crown Prosecution Service has reminded all concerned that the defendants have the right to a fair trial. Police are pursuing several lines of inquiry, including whether the murder was a hate crime.
Vigils have been held across the UK in memory of Brianna, described by her family as “strong, fearless, one of a kind.” A GoFundMe page for her parents has raised nearly £90,000.
