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Murder of Brianna Ghey

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sideswipe9th (talk | contribs) at 18:52, 15 February 2023 (→Criticism of UK media: copy edit, slight language change "NBC News' report on..." -> "A report by NBC News on..."). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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

On 11 February 2023, Brianna Ghey (23 July 2006 – 11 February 2023), a 16-year-old British transgender girl from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, England was killed in Culcheth Linear Park in Culcheth, Warrington.[2][3][4][5] Two teenage suspects, a boy and a girl both aged 15, are in police custody, having been charged with murder four days after the incident.[1] The police are investigating it as a possible hate crime.[6]

Killing

On the afternoon of 11 February 2023, Ghey was found on a path in Culcheth Linear Park by members of the public with multiple stab wounds.[7] Emergency services were called at 3:13 p.m. and she was pronounced dead at the scene.[7] A Home Office postmortem has been ordered to determine the cause of death.[7]

People involved

Brianna Ghey

External videos
video icon Ghey's final TikTok

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

Suspects

Two 15-year-old suspects, a boy from Leigh and a girl from Warrington,[18] were arrested by Cheshire Police on the evening of 12 February 2023.[19][20] Police have described the killing as a "targeted attack",[10] and on 14 February, the police began to investigate the attack as a possible hate crime,[6] after having previously stated that there was no evidence to suggest that it was.[6] On 15 February the suspects were refused bail by a judge, placed into youth detention, and ordered to appear at Liverpool Crown Court the next morning.[18][21]

Reactions

Ghey's death has 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".[22] Emma Mills, headteacher of Birchwood Community High School said: "We are shocked and truly devastated to hear of the death of Brianna."[22] The Independent 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."[16]

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."[23] 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."[11] 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".[24]

The Miami Herald reported that thousands in the LGBTQ community and users of social media were grieving over the stabbing death of Ghey.[25] LGBT rights charity Stonewall and transgender youth charity Mermaids both expressed sympathy for Ghey's family.[26][27] Due to laws in the United Kingdom that prevent minors from acquiring a gender recognition certificate, Ghey's death certificate will likely misgender her.[28] 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."[29] 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".[25]

English musician Yungblud tweeted that he was "heartbroken" by the killing and called for people to "protect trans kids every day and fight relentlessly against anti-trans sentiment & legislations being pushed by our heinous government."[23][30] Punk band Big Joanie expressed disgust over the killing in a tweet, calling for "Solidarity to all the communities having to live in fear for their own safety and lives for simply existing right now."[23][31] Rock band Reverend and the Makers said in a tweet: "The death of Brianna Ghey has really saddened me" and asked "What happened to being decent towards other humans?"[23][32]

Criticism of UK media

Some UK media outlets have been criticised for their reporting of Ghey's death.[11][14][33] The Trans Safety Network said that some UK media outlets were "publicly disrespecting" Ghey in their coverage of her death.[34][35] Initial reporting by both BBC News and Sky News did not state that Ghey was transgender.[34] The Times faced strong criticism after amending their original story by removing the word "girl" and including Ghey's deadname.[14][34] The Times later amended their story again to remove the deadname and re-add the word "girl".[36]

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.[14] 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."[29] 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."[34] 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."[34]

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 has vocally criticised transgender rights and that the BBC had recently published an article that was accused of "[painting] all transgender women as sexual predators".[37] 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."[38]

Drones and no-fly zone

On 13 February, a no-fly zone was instituted over the site of the killing in response to flights by drones.[39][40] Despite the no-fly zone, people continued to fly drones over the site, prompting condemnation from police.[41]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Brianna Ghey: Two teenagers charged with murder". Sky News. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  2. ^ Holmes, Wesley (12 February 2023). "Two 15-year-olds arrested over Brianna Ghey murder". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Humphries, Will; Sandeman, George (12 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey, 16, stabbed to death in 'targeted attack'". The Times. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Brianna Ghey killing investigated as possible hate crime". BBC News. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Barnes, Jessica (13 February 2023). "Birchwood High school pays tribute to pupil Brianna Ghey". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  9. ^ Holmes, Wesley (13 February 2023). "'My heart is breaking': Tributes to Brianna Ghey posted to teen's TikTok". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b c McMenamin, Lexi (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: 16-Year-Old Trans Girl Killed in UK". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  12. ^ Hunte, Ben (14 February 2023). "'We're Her Trans Sisters': Friends Pay Tribute to Stabbing Victim Brianna Ghey". Vice News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ a b 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ a b c d 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.
  24. ^ Factora, James (13 February 2023). "16-Year-Old Brianna Ghey, a Trans Teen, Killed in England". Them. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "Brianna Ghey's death has left massive hole, says family". BBC News. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ @yungblud (13 February 2023). "utterly heartbroken about the death of 16 year old brianna ghey. protect trans kids every day and fight relentlessly against anti-trans sentiment & legislations being pushed by our heinous government . rest in peace brianna ghey" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  31. ^ @Big_Joanie (13 February 2023). "Disgusted doesn't cover it. Solidarity to all the communities having to live in fear for their own safety and lives for simply existing right now" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. ^ @Reverend_Makers (13 February 2023). "The death of Brianna Ghey has really saddened me Lot of people on this website think their nasty mean spirited shit has no consequences but in the real world people get killed for it What happened to being decent towards other humans ?" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Smith, Serena (13 February 2023). "Brianna Ghey: a 16-year-old trans girl has been killed in Cheshire". Dazed Digital. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  34. ^ 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.
  35. ^ @trans_safety (13 February 2023). "TSN Statement on the killing of Brianna Ghey" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Brianna Ghey's Murder Is Bringing Up A Much Needed, Painful Conversation About Trans Safety". HuffPost UK. 14 February 2023.
  37. ^ Lavietes, Matt (15 February 2023). "Transgender community mourns death of British teen found stabbed to death". NBC News. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  38. ^ Smith, Raven (14 February 2023). "What We Know About the Murder of Brianna Ghey". Vogue. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  39. ^ Nicholson, Abigail (13 February 2023). "No fly zone imposed over scene of Brianna Ghey killing". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ 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.
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