Detective Inspector Nigel Parr, from Cheshire Constabulary, who led the investigation, said outside court: “This was a senseless murder committed by two teenagers who had an obsession with murder, whose only motivation in killing Brianna was to experience what this would be like.
“Brianna was a teenager whose whole life was ahead of her. She went out on that Saturday thinking she was going to meet a friend. The fact that she suffered with anxiety and was vulnerable was something which both defendants preyed upon.
“Brianna trusted the female defendant. She was betrayed by someone she called her friend.”
Speaking after the trial, Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey said: “To know how scared my usually fearless child must have been when she was alone in that park with someone that she called her friend will haunt me forever.”
She also urged people to show compassion to the parents of the teenagers convicted of murdering her daughter.
Mrs Ghey said: “Please have some empathy and compassion for the families of the young people convicted of this horrific crime. They too have lost a child and they must live the rest of their lives knowing what their child has done.”
She added: “Prior to the trial, I have had moments where I felt sorry for the defendants because they have ruined their own lives as well as ours.
“But now, knowing the true nature of the two and seeing neither display an ounce of remorse for what they have done to Brianna, I have lost any sympathy that I previously had for them, and I am glad that they will spend many years in prison and away from society.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
