Two 16-year-olds in the U.K., who were convicted of murdering transgender teen Brianna Ghey last year, were identified and sentenced to life sentences on Friday.
Justice Amanda Yip revealed at Manchester Crown Court that Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were convicted of carrying out the murder of Ghey, who was fatally stabbed 28 times in the head, neck and chest in broad daylight, according to NBC News, Independent U.K. and The Guardian.
Yip, who handed down the sentence, said Ratcliffe and Jenkinson would serve a minimum prison term of 20 years and 22 years, respectively, before they would be eligible for parole, per NBC News. They would serve time in a juvenile prison before being transferred to an adult prison at the age of 18, the outlet said.
“You will only be released if in the future it is decided you no longer present a danger,” Yip said, according to NBC News. “You both took part in a brutal and planned murder, which was sadistic in nature, and a secondary motivation was hostility to Brianna because of her transgender identity.”
Yip noted in court, per NBC News, that Jenkinson received a longer sentence as she had led the plan and appeared to have “enjoyed” killing Ghey. Prosecutors said she had expressed excitement over the murder, texting Ratcliffe, “I’m excited about Saturday,” to which he responded, “Why?” before saying he forgot about it, The Guardian reported.
Additional details about Jenkinson also came to light following the release of her name, including the fact that she was the one who initiated conversations about Ghey with Ratcliffe, according to The Guardian.
In one message to Ratcliffe on Dec. 15, 2022, Jenkinson wrote, per The Guardian: “I’m obsessed over someone I know but don’t have feelings for them … She’s called Brianna … I don’t know how to explain. Also she has a d— lol.”
Jenkinson then befriended Ghey prior to the attack, though Ghey wasn’t the only one on her “hit list.” According to The Guardian, she also told Ratcliffe in text messages that she had wanted to kill two other boys from school for hurting her boyfriend. The pair also discussed considering killing a boy that Ratcliffe saw as a threat.
Ultimately, Jenkinson chose Ghey to be their victim and suggested they go to Linear Park to carry out the killing as it was a secluded spot, per the outlet. Jenkinson told Ratcliffe in a text message that she had wanted to stab Ghey “cos it’s fun lol,” according to The Guardian.
They both pleaded not guilty to murdering Ghey, but were convicted of her murder in December 2023.
Jenkinson’s family said in a statement to Independent UK: “All of our thoughts are for Brianna and her family. The last 12 months have been beyond our worst nightmares as we have come to realize the brutal truth of Scarlett’s actions.”
Ghey’s mother said in a statement to the court, per NBC News, “I have moments where I feel sorry for them because they have also ruined their own lives, but I have to remember that they felt no empathy for Brianna when they left her bleeding to death after their premeditated and vicious attack, which was carried out not because Brianna had done anything wrong, but just because one hated trans people and the other thought it would be fun.”
