Brianna Ghey murder trial: Jury retires to consider verdicts

Brianna Ghey was found dead at Culcheth Linear Park after being stabbed 28 times

Jurors in the Brianna Ghey murder trial have retired to consider their verdicts.

The 16-year-old, who was transgender, was stabbed 28 times in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington, in February.

Two teenagers, identified only as girl X and boy Y for legal reasons, both deny murder and blame each other.

The pair, then aged 15, both said they walked away when Brianna was stabbed and turned around to see the other killing the teenager.

The trial has heard both defendants had a fascination for violence, torture and murder and it was alleged they had planned the killing for weeks.

'Dark fantasies'

Jurors were told girl X enjoyed watching internet torture and killing material from the "dark web" and had an interest in serial killers.

The jury was also shown an alleged "murder plan" on how to kill Brianna along with messages they exchanged, including a "kill list" of other children they planned to harm.

Girl X has said she enjoyed "dark fantasies" but with no intention to ever turn them into reality, while boy Y said he went along with them and did not take them seriously; both say they never expected the other to act on them.

On the 18th day of the trial, the jury was sent out to consider its verdicts shortly after 10:00 GMT.

Judge Mrs Justice Yip said: "It's important that you try to reach verdicts which are unanimous, that means verdicts on which all of you agree."