Murder of Brianna Ghey: Difference between revisions

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| location = Culcheth Linear Park, [[Borough of Warrington]], Cheshire, England
| location = Culcheth Linear Park, [[Borough of Warrington]], Cheshire, England
| date = {{start date|2023|02|11|df=yes}}
| date = {{start date|2023|02|11|df=yes}}
| type = [[Child murder]] by [[stabbing]]
| type = Stabbing
| victim = Brianna Ghey
| victim = Brianna Ghey
| fatalities = 1
| fatalities = 1

Revision as of 00:11, 17 February 2023

Killing of Brianna Ghey
LocationCulcheth Linear Park, Borough of Warrington, Cheshire, England
Date11 February 2023 (2023-02-11)
Attack type
Stabbing
Deaths1
VictimBrianna Ghey
MotiveUnder investigation
Accused2
ChargesMurder[1]

On 11 February 2023, Brianna Ghey (/dʒaɪ/ JY),[2][3] a 16-year-old British transgender girl from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, England was killed in Culcheth Linear Park in Culcheth, Warrington.[4][5][6][7] Two accused teenagers, a boy and a girl both aged 15, are in police custody, having been charged with murder four days after the incident.[1] A motive has not been established and police are investigating "all lines of inquiry", including investigating the murder as a hate crime.[8]

Background

Brianna Ghey

External videos
video icon Ghey's final TikTok

Ghey was a Year 11 pupil at Birchwood Community High School.[9][10] Her parents described her as "a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her".[11][12] According to her friends, Ghey would often help younger trans girls safely and legally access hormone replacement therapy.[13] They also said she had faced years of transphobic harassment and bullying before she was killed, including at school, a part of which was being repeatedly "gang beaten".[13][14][15][16] In addition to being a student, she was also a TikToker with over 63,000 followers on the platform[11] with the username @gingerpuppyx.[17] On TikTok she was known for miming and dancing to popular songs.[11] One of her final TikToks said that she was "excluded from school".[14] In her final TikTok, with over 8,000 comments, she is seen walking in Linear Park.[18] Since her death, her Tiktok account has been deleted.[15]

Killing

On the afternoon of 11 February 2023, Ghey was found with multiple stab wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park by members of the public.[19] Emergency services were called at 3:13 p.m. and she was pronounced dead at the scene.[19] A Home Office postmortem has been ordered to determine the cause of death.[19] On 13 February, a no-fly zone was instituted over the site of the killing in response to flights by drones.[20][21] Despite the no-fly zone, people continued to fly drones over the site, prompting condemnation from police.[22] On 15 February 2023, prosecutor Leanne Gallagher said the attack on Ghey was "extremely brutal and punishing".[1][23][24]

Aftermath

A group of people gathered in a circle on a sidewalk at night. Many are holding transgender pride flags.
A candlelight vigil held for Ghey in Woking, Surrey

A GoFundMe set up by Ghey's friends to support her family raised £70,000 in three days.[25][26] Candlelit vigils were held both across the United Kingdom, and in Dublin, Ireland in the week after Ghey's death.[27][28] The attendance for many of these vigils numbered in the hundreds to thousands.[29][30][31] A Cheshire Police Investigating Officer said Ghey's family were overwhelmed by "the messages of support, positivity and the compassion across the country and beyond".[32]

The LGBTQ-themed radio station, Gaydio, announced it had collaborated with other LGBTQ stations in the UK to broadcast a minute's silence at 11.00am on 17 February. The silence would be preceded by a feature introduced by transgender presenter Stephanie Hirst in which she would reflect on the discrimination and violence often experienced by trans people, as well as paying tribute to Ghey.[33][34]

Due to laws in the United Kingdom that prevent minors from acquiring a gender recognition certificate, Ghey's death certificate will likely misgender her.[35] U.S. civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo wrote "The gender recognition act that the gender criticals keep fighting, with horrific, demonising language, means that Brianna Ghey's death certificate cannot list her gender as female. As a final insult, the English government will officially misgender her in death."[36] Twitter campaigns called for the Government to issue a Gender Recognition Certificate to Ghey "so that she can have the dignity in death that everyone else in this world takes for granted".[37]

Accused

Two 15-year-old suspects, a boy from Leigh and a girl from Warrington,[38] were arrested by Cheshire Police on the evening of 12 February 2023.[39][40] Police described the killing as a "targeted attack",[11] and on 14 February, the police began to investigate the attack as a possible hate crime,[8] after having previously stated that there was no evidence to suggest that it was.[8] On 15 February the suspects were charged with murder, refused bail, placed in youth detention, and ordered to appear at Liverpool Crown Court the next morning.[38][41]

On 16 February 2023, it was reported that the boy and girl charged with Ghey's murder would have a pre-trial preparation hearing on 2 May 2023 and that their trial would tentatively start on 10 July 2023 and last for approximately three weeks.[42][43][44]

Reactions

Ghey's death prompted responses from her family, local community, politicians, charities, activists, and musicians. Ghey's family said her death had "left a massive hole in our family".[45] Emma Mills, headteacher of Birchwood Community High School said: "We are shocked and truly devastated to hear of the death of Brianna."[45] According to the Independent, MailOnline reported that a parent of one of her school friends criticised the initial police statement, saying, "Let's be frank, she was bullied because of her sexuality. Of course this is a hate crime."[14]

Labour Party MP Dawn Butler said on Twitter that "Anyone in the media who is using her deadname trying to erase Brianna's identity should be ashamed of themselves."[46] Another Labour Party MP Nadia Whittome said: "Brianna deserved a chance to become a beautiful adult woman, and to live to see a world where trans people are safe and respected."[12] Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by saying "she was killed because she wanted to be herself", and adding "My thoughts are with Brianna's family and the trans community fighting for safety, dignity and liberation".[47]

The Miami Herald reported that thousands in the LGBTQ community and users of social media were grieving over the stabbing death of Ghey.[37] LGBT rights charity Stonewall and transgender youth charity Mermaids expressed sympathy for Ghey's family, and Mermaids tweeted its helpline would be available to people disturbed by the murder.[48][49][50] Various musicians tweeted their sorrow, disgust and support, including Yungblud, Big Joanie and Reverend and the Makers.[46]

Criticism of UK media

Some UK media outlets were criticised for their reporting of Ghey's death.[12][16][51] The Trans Safety Network said that some UK media outlets were "publicly disrespecting" Ghey in their coverage of her death.[52][53] Initial reporting by both BBC News and Sky News did not state that Ghey was transgender.[52] The Times faced strong criticism after amending their original story by removing the word "girl" and including Ghey's deadname.[16][52] The Times later amended their story again to remove the deadname and re-add the word "girl".[54]

The website The Mary Sue condemned what it described as the transphobic atmosphere of the British press and widespread transphobic reporting on the killing of Ghey.[16] Senthorun Raj, a professor of human rights law, said "We all have a responsibility to challenge the insidious ways the media and politicians dehumanise trans people."[36] Ash Sarkar, a journalist for Novara Media said she "cannot fathom the callousness involved in making the editorial decision to violate her dignity in death."[52] Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said that she would be lodging a complaint with The Times and the Independent Press Standards Organisation and that "there is absolutely no need whatsoever for anyone to publish her deadname when identifying her as trans in media coverage."[52]

A report by NBC News on the killing concluded that "the climate in the U.K. has grown increasingly hostile for trans people over the last few years", noting that British author J. K. Rowling had vocally criticised transgender rights and that the BBC had recently published the article "We're being pressured into sex by some trans women", which was accused of "[painting] all transgender women as sexual predators".[55] American magazine Vogue connected the killing to online transphobia, writing that "there's a near-constant questioning of trans rights that reinforces the idea that trans men and women are trying to fool us, to trick us, that their deeply personal gender identity is an affront to the status quo and how we live."[56]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Brianna Ghey: Two teenagers charged with murder". Sky News. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  2. ^ Brianna Ghey: Tributes to 'larger than life' character. Sky News. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  3. ^ Family pay tribute after death of Brianna Ghey. Channel 4. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. ^ Holmes, Wesley (12 February 2023). "Two 15-year-olds arrested over Brianna Ghey murder". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  5. ^ Lynch, Niamh (12 February 2023). "Girl, 16, stabbed to death in Cheshire park named as police launch murder probe". Sky News. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  6. ^ Kelly, Kieran; Solomons, Adam (12 February 2023). "Teenage boy and girl, both 15, arrested after 16-year-old trans girl murdered in park". LBC. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  7. ^ Humphries, Will; Sandeman, George (12 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey, 16, stabbed to death in 'targeted attack'". The Times. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Brianna Ghey killing investigated as possible hate crime". BBC News. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  9. ^ Barnes, Jessica (13 February 2023). "Birchwood High school pays tribute to pupil Brianna Ghey". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  10. ^ Holmes, Wesley (13 February 2023). "'My heart is breaking': Tributes to Brianna Ghey posted to teen's TikTok". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d Bolton, Will; Somerville, Ewan (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey, 16, posted on TikTok hours before being stabbed to death". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  12. ^ a b c McMenamin, Lexi (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: 16-Year-Old Trans Girl Killed in UK". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  13. ^ a b Hunte, Ben (14 February 2023). "'We're Her Trans Sisters': Friends Pay Tribute to Stabbing Victim Brianna Ghey". Vice News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  14. ^ a b c James, Liam (14 February 2023). "'Bullied' Brianna Ghey said she was excluded from school in TikTok days before killing". The Independent. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  15. ^ a b Ali, Joe (14 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: Trans girl said she'd been excluded from school days before death". PinkNews. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d Ball, Siobhan (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey Murder Coverage Shows Even in Death, British Media Can't Respect Trans People". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  17. ^ Mackinlay, Catherine; Holmes, Wesley (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: Tributes pour in to 'beautiful' girl stabbed to death as murder investigation launched". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  18. ^ Mata, William (13 February 2023). "Final TikTok by Brianna Ghey shows park where trans girl may have been killed". The Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Murray, Jessica (12 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: boy and girl, both 15, arrested on suspicion of murder". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  20. ^ Nicholson, Abigail (13 February 2023). "No fly zone imposed over scene of Brianna Ghey killing". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  21. ^ Skentelbery, Gary (13 February 2023). "No-fly zone put in place after drones seen flying over scene of Brianna Ghey's death". Warrington Worldwide. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  22. ^ Holt, James (13 February 2023). "Police condemn people flying drones over Warrington park where teenager Brianna Ghey was found dead". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  23. ^ Bolton, Will; Stephens, Max (15 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey's death was 'extremely brutal and punishing', prosecutor tells court". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  24. ^ Karim, Fariha (15 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: trans girl's murder was brutal, court told". Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  25. ^ Cleary, Emily; Manning, Ellen (14 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: £70,000 raised for family of girl, 16, killed in park". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  26. ^ Zakir-Hussain, Maryam (15 February 2023). "Fundraiser for grieving family of Brianna Ghey beats target sixteen times over". The Independent. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  27. ^ Burrell, Miriam (15 February 2023). "Candlelit vigils held across UK for Brianna Ghey". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  28. ^ McCambridge, Jonathan (16 February 2023). "Hundreds attend vigils in Dublin and Belfast in memory of Brianna Ghey". The Irish News. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  29. ^ "Brianna Ghey: candles and flower tributes laid at vigil for trans teenager". The Guardian. 14 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Hundreds gather at candlelit vigil for Brianna Ghey outside DfE building". The Independent. 15 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Brianna Ghey: Thousands mourn transgender girl at candle-lit vigil outside Department for Education". inews.
  32. ^ Holt, James (16 February 2023). "Family of Brianna Ghey 'overwhelmed by support' as candlelit vigils held across the country following teen's death". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  33. ^ "LGBTQ+ stations to hold minute silence to remember Brianna Ghey". 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  34. ^ "LGBTQ+ radio station to hold minute's silence to remember Brianna Ghey". The Argus. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  35. ^ Zitser, Joshua (14 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old trans girl, was stabbed to death in the UK. Her death certificate will likely misgender her — one final indignity, activists say". Insider. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  36. ^ a b Billson, Chantelle (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: Family leads tributes after 'much-loved daughter and sister' stabbed to death in park". PinkNews. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  37. ^ a b Baitinger, Brook (15 February 2023). "Trans teen's killing sparks outrage in the UK. Why many demand 'Dignity for Brianna'". McClatchchy News Network. Miami Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  38. ^ a b Holpuch, Amanda (15 February 2023). "Two Teenagers Charged in Murder of Girl in Britain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  39. ^ "Brianna Ghey: Two teenagers arrested after 16-year-old stabbed to death in Warrington". Sky News. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  40. ^ "Brianna Ghey: Boy and girl arrested over Warrington park stabbing". BBC News. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  41. ^ Halliday, Josh; corespondent, Josh Halliday North of England (15 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: two teenagers appear in court charged with murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  42. ^ Halliday, Josh (16 February 2023). "Teenagers charged with Brianna Ghey's murder to stand trial in July". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  43. ^ "Trial date fixed for teenagers charged with murder of Brianna Ghey in Warrington". ITV News. 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  44. ^ Stephens, Max (16 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: Boy and girl charged with murdering trans teenager to face trial". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  45. ^ a b Vinter, Robyn (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey's family say her death has left a 'massive hole'". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  46. ^ a b Jones, Damian (13 February 2023). "Yungblud, entertainment world and more pay tribute to murdered trans girl Brianna Ghey, aged 16". NME. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  47. ^ Factora, James (13 February 2023). "16-Year-Old Brianna Ghey, a Trans Teen, Killed in England". Them. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  48. ^ "Brianna Ghey: Family pays tribute to 'much-loved daughter and sister' who was stabbed to death in a park". Sky News. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  49. ^ "Brianna Ghey's death has left massive hole, says family". BBC News. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  50. ^ Bugel, Safi; Vinter, Robyn (14 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: candles and flower tributes laid at vigil for trans teenager". Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  51. ^ Smith, Serena (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: a 16-year-old trans girl has been killed in Cheshire". Dazed Digital. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  52. ^ a b c d e Kelleher, Patrick (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: The Times condemned for using teen's deadname in 'appalling' coverage". PinkNews. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  53. ^ @trans_safety (13 February 2023). "TSN Statement on the killing of Brianna Ghey" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  54. ^ "Brianna Ghey's Murder Is Bringing Up A Much Needed, Painful Conversation About Trans Safety". HuffPost UK. 14 February 2023.
  55. ^ Lavietes, Matt (15 February 2023). "Transgender community mourns death of British teen found stabbed to death". NBC News. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  56. ^ Smith, Raven (14 February 2023). "What We Know About the Murder of Brianna Ghey". Vogue. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
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