Brianna Ghey: Boy and girl in court charged with murder

Brianna Ghey was found injured in Linear Park in Culcheth and died at the scene

A boy and girl, both aged 15, have appeared in court charged with murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey who was stabbed to death in a village park.

The transgender schoolgirl was found lying wounded on a path in Linear Park in Culcheth, Cheshire, on Saturday.

Her family said she was a "much-loved" daughter, granddaughter, and sister.

On Wednesday evening hundreds of people attended candlelit vigils in cities including Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Lancaster and Leeds for Brianna.

The charged girl, from Warrington, and the boy, from Leigh, appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court and were remanded into youth detention.

They are due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.

The pair, who appeared separately and spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and ages, were not required to enter pleas to the charge.

Both were supported by their parents in court, and were flanked by one dock officer throughout the hearing.

Cheshire Police initially said there was no evidence Brianna's killing was hate related but on Tuesday detectives said all lines of inquiry were "being explored", including hate crime.

Officers, who had been given extra time to question the two teenagers, later charged them with murder.

People attended a candlelit vigil at the Spire in O'Connell Street, Dublin, on Wednesday

People paid their respects to Brianna in Lancaster

On Wednesday evening hundreds of people attended candlelit vigils in many cities.

In one vigil held outside the Department for Education in central London, mourners took part in a minute's silence.

Hundreds of people gathered, holding trans pride flags and placards, and flowers and a sign saying "RIP Brianna" were left at the door of the building.

Vigils, organised by members of the transgender community, were also held for Brianna on Tuesday in Liverpool and Bristol.

Crowds gathered outside St George's Hall in Liverpool on Tuesday night

People held posters at the vigils saying "rest in power" in tribute to Brianna

Brianna's family, who are from Birchwood in Warrington, described her as "beautiful, witty and hilarious".

They said she was "strong, fearless and one of a kind" with a "larger-than-life character".

"The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family," they added.

Members of the public found Brianna with stab wounds and called emergency services just after 15:00 GMT on Saturday, Cheshire Police said.

Police increased patrols in the area

Detectives earlier said a post-mortem examination was taking place to establish the cause of death.

Extra police patrols have been sent to the area, which is a well-known dog-walking spot.

Friends have left flowers and other tributes at the entrance of the park. One read: "Fly high our pink angel".

Tributes have also been paid to Brianna on social media and in particular Tik Tok, where she had a huge following.

Flowers have been left in Linear Park in Culcheth in memory of the teenager

People from the transgender community have described her social media content as a great support, with one online friend saying she "stuck up for me, and listened to my rants when I needed it the most".

Another tweeted that "she was always so sweet to me" and one message described her as a "sweet angel" and a "beautiful girl".

"I knew of her through Tik Tok... utterly lost for words... my heart aches for her," another added.

Analysis

BBC North of England Correspondent, Fiona Trott

As one of the teenagers appeared in court, her mother looked on, visibly upset. A reminder that it's children who are involved in this case, which is provoking strong emotions outside court too.

Brianna had a large following on social media and the police are having to remind users not to discuss the case or identify the defendants.

The LGBTQ+ community is organising vigils across the UK and a fundraising page set up to support Brianna's family has raised more than £90,000.

The family at the centre of this are devastated, but what's clear from this case is that complete strangers are devastated, too. 

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