A judge will decide whether to lift anonymity orders protecting the identities of Brianna Ghey’s teenage killers, and allow the media to publish their names, at a hearing on Thursday.
Brianna, 16, was stabbed with a hunting knife 28 times in her head, neck, chest and back after being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth, a village near Warrington, Cheshire, on the afternoon of February 11.
Her killers, identified only as girl X and boy Y – both now aged 16 but 15 at the time, had denied murder and each blamed the other for the killing of the transgender teenager, described as “horrific” by detectives.
Trial judge Mrs Justice Yip said she will deal with an application by the press to publish the defendants’ names at a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
At the same court on Wednesday, she also adjourned sentencing to an unconfirmed later date, making clear to the convicted pair that they faced life sentences.
Intelligent, “high functioning” and coming from normal backgrounds, the trial heard the defendants had a fascination for violence, torture and murder – and had a “thirst for killing”.
Their lawyers asked for time for the preparation of psychologists’ reports before they are sentenced.
Mrs Justice Yip agreed, but added: “Frankly I don’t expect them to make a huge difference to the outcome in sentencing but given their ages and the unusual circumstances of the case, I think it is right I have all the information available.
“I’m very conscious that no doubt the family of Brianna would want this case to be concluded as soon as possible.”
Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, said Brianna’s mother, Esther, would like to read her victim impact statement before the sentencing hearing, adding: “They understand the court wants the further assistance of medical reports.”
Emotional tributes were paid outside the court on Wednesday, as Brianna's parents spoke through tears to remember their daughter and speak of their loss.
Brianna's mother, Esther Ghey, said she was her "precious child".
"Brianna was larger than life," she said.
"She was funny, witty and fearless.
"We miss Brianna so much and our house feels empty without her laughter."
Peter Spooner, Brianna's father, said it "breaks" him daily to know he will never see his daughter again.
"It is impossible to put into words how the murder of my child has affected me," he told reporters.
"I never stopped loving her and I never will. When she was little I remember the faces she would pull to make me laugh.
"The cheeky giggle, the funny dances, are engraved in my memory.
"I knew she was going to be a star and the amount of support she received from the followers on TikTok proved this.
"I was so proud of what she could do."
Referring to her "amazing talent", he added: "I look into her eyes and they shine back at me, and I know she was a beautiful girl to be proud of."
The parents condemned their daughter's killers.
Brianna's mother said they have not shown "an ounce of remorse" and, as a result, she has lost the sympathy she felt for them before the trial.
But she called for "empathy and compassion" for their families as "they too have lost a child" and "must live the rest of their lives knowing what their child has done".
Mr Spooner denounced the "cruel and heartbreaking" actions of those who "brutally" took his daughter's life.
He said: "I hate how her life has been brutally taken away from her and she's been deprived of the life she wanted to live.
"It's difficult to comprehend how some people can do these vile things in the world and don't understand how cruel and heartbreaking their actions can be."
