WE ARE TRULY SORRY
Teen killer’s family apologise for brutal murder of tragic Brianna
THE family of Scarlett Jenkinson – the girl who murdered transgender teen Brianna Ghey – have said they are truly sorry for the twisted killer’s horrific crime.
In a heartfelt apology, her devastated relatives said: “The last 12 months have been beyond our worst nightmares as we have come to realise the brutal truth of Scarlett’s actions.”
But they added: “All of our thoughts are with Brianna and her family.”
It came after Brianna’s brave mum Esther called for “empathy and compassion” for the families of both Jenkinson and fellow murderer Eddie Ratcliffe, also 16.
She said they too had lost a child but “must live the rest of their lives knowing what their child has done”.
The teenage killers were named on Friday after an anonymity order was lifted by judge Mrs Justice Yip. Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were just 15 when they killed Brianna in a “frenzied and ferocious” attack with a hunting knife. Both denied murder and blamed each other, but were found guilty. Sentencing them to life – Jenkinson for at least 22 years and Ratcliffe for a minimum of 20 – the judge said unmasking them would help the public “understand how children could do something so dreadful”. Jenkinson’s family said: “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.
“We offer our sincere thanks to Esther Ghey for her incredible selflessness and empathy towards our family. Her compassion is overwhelming. To all of Brianna’s family and friends, our community and everyone… affected by this horror, we are truly sorry.”
Brianna, 16, was stabbed 28 times in the head, neck, chest and back after
being lured to Linear Park, Culcheth – a village near Warrington, Cheshire – in February last year. Jenkinson, whose parents are teachers and live close to the park, had been asked to leave her school, Culcheth High, for giving cannabis-laced sweets to another pupil. She became “obsessed” with Brianna when she joined the school in 2022. Mrs Justice Yip concluded Jenkinson’s motivation to commit the murder was driven by a “deep desire” to kill, while Ratcliffe was motivated in part by hostility towards Brianna because she was transgender. But she stressed anyone directing “vitriol or malice” towards either of the killer’s families would be “acting against the express wishes” of Ms Ghey. It is expected Ratcliffe will serve time at HMP Wetherby and Jenkinson will be held at Bronzefield prison before both are moved when they turn 18.
The families of Brianna’s murderers have also lost children – and must live the rest of their lives knowing what their children have done