Teenage boy and girl, both 15, arrested after 16-year-old trans girl murdered in park

12 February 2023, 13:58 | Updated: 12 February 2023, 21:39

A pair of 15-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of murder after a girl, 16, was stabbed to death in a park.

They are now in custody assisting police with their investigation.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said: “A number of enquiries in relation to this incident are underway and we are doing all that we can to establish the exact circumstances of what has happened.

“At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the circumstances surrounding Brianna’s death are hate related.

“Patrols have been stepped up in the local area and officers will remain in the Culcheth area to provide reassurance and address any concerns that residents may have.

“I would ask anyone who has any information, no matter how big or small, that they believe could help with our investigation to get in touch.

“We are also keen for people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation.”

Police officers were called to Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington at around 3.13pm on Saturday, where they found teenager Brianna Ghey from Birchwood.

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By the time police arrived, Ms Ghey was dead after suffering "serious injuries".

A post-mortem found that Brianna had died from stab wounds.

A spokesman for Cheshire Constabulary said there was no evidence that the 16-year-old transgender girl's murder was a hate crime. They added that detectives are keeping an 'open mind' about the relevance of her gender identity, MailOnline reported.

Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Evans said: "This is a truly awful attack on a 16-year-old girl, who has sadly lost her very short life. We are appealing for any information that will help us find who has done this to Brianna.

"In particular we are keen to speak to two people that were seen in the park where Brianna’s body was found who have been described as a white man and woman, in their late teens/early twenties, both with dark curly hair. 

"The man was wearing a longish dark hooded coat and the woman had a distinctive red or purple black checked blanket-style coat and a long flowing skirt, dress or trousers."

He continued: "We are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the park from around 1.30pm until 4.00pm yesterday or anyone who may have seen Brianna in the hours leading up to her death.

"We would ask people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation.

"I would like to reassure the local community that we are working hard to find those responsible for Brianna’s death and we have extra officers in and around Culcheth supporting the investigation. 

"We also have officers supporting Brianna’s family at this really tragic time."

Anyone with information should contact police via the Cheshire Constabulary website or by calling 101, quoting IML 1476832.

Information can also be reported anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.