THE FAMILY of a teenage girl jailed for the gruesome murder of Brianna Ghey has broken their silence.
Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were just 15 years old when they hatched a horrific plan and knifed helpless Brianna 28 times.
The schoolgirl, 16, was lured to Linear Park in Warrington, in February last year by the sadistic pair – who are now both 16.
Now Scarlett’s family has told how their “thoughts are with Brianna and her family”.
In a statement to the Warrington Guardian, they said: “The last 12 months have been beyond our worst nightmares as we have come to realise the brutal truth of Scarlett’s actions.
We agree with the jury’s verdict, the judge’s sentence and the decision to name the culprits.
“Our lives are in turmoil, but our immediate focus is to make sure that we don’t do anything against the wishes of Brianna’s family.
They added: “We offer our sincere thanks to Esther Ghey for her incredible selflessness and empathy towards our family. Her compassion is overwhelming and we are forever grateful.
“To all of Brianna’s family and friends, our community and everyone else that has been affected by this horror, we are truly sorry.”
Jenkinson and Ratcliffe have now been named by a judge as the pair were jailed for life today for murder.
Previous reporting restrictions meant the killers could only be referred to during their trial as girl X and boy Y.
Jenkinson remained emotionless as she received a minimum of 22 years, while Ratcliffe stared straight ahead he was told he must spend at least 20 years in prison.
It comes as:
- Scarlett Jenkinson was seen sobbing after being arrested
- Footage shows teens with Brianna moments before knifing her
- Chilling notes reveal Jenkinson’s obsession with serial killers
- Brianna’s mum says ‘I’ve never felt such grief’ in emotional statement
- Court heard how warped pair had a ‘thirst for killing’
- Bloodthirsty murderers were snared by their chilling texts
Sentencing, Mrs Justice Yip said the murder was “brutal” and “sadistic” and that a secondary motive was Brianna’s trans identity.
The judge added: “Brianna was only 16-years-old. She had her whole life ahead of her.
“This case is unusual and it has shocked the public.”
It can now be revealed Jenkinson, whose parents were both teachers, had been expelled from Culceth High School over a drug incident.
Ratcliffe meanwhile is the son of a truck company manager dad and ski instructor mum.
He previously competed in the Amateur Associations’ World Kick Boxing Championships in Jamaica in 2018.
The intelligent killer passed eight GCSEs while on remand and has since been studying for A levels in physics, biology, chemistry, maths and English literature.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Brianna’s mum Esther Ghey said she believes the pair are still a danger to society.
The mum added: “I don’t believe that someone who is so disturbed and obsessed with murder and torture would ever be able to be rehabilitated.
“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.”
While Brianna’s dad described her killers as “a pair of monsters” who “should be forgotten”.
