London, England – Two teenagers found guilty of the “exceptionally brutal” murder of 16-year-old trans British teenager Brianna Ghey have been identified in court for the first time and sentenced to life in prison. According to reports, the court found that the two juveniles were actively watching murder videos on the dark web prior to committing the heinous crime. The murder was said to be partly motivated by Ghey’s transgender identity, making it a rare and disturbing case.
Scarlett Jenkinson, described as the “driving force” behind the murder, was sentenced to a minimum of 22 years in prison, while Eddie Ratcliffe, a former champion kickboxer, was given a 20-year prison sentence. The court noted that the murder was sadistic in nature, with a secondary motive of hostility towards Brianna due to her transgender identity. The judge also revealed that Jenkinson had created a new “kill list” since her detention and was motivated by a “deep desire to kill”.
Jenkinson admitted to stabbing Brianna repeatedly because she thought Brianna would “stop being her friend”, and it was revealed that she had an obsession with “dark materials” and had downloaded a special browser on her phone to watch real murders and torture on the dark web. The sentencing hearing was described as one of the most disturbing cases by Nicola Wyn Williams, a senior prosecutor at the CPS. The two teenagers were convicted killers responsible for the brutal murder of a vulnerable young girl who thought they were her friends.
The mother of Brianna, Esther Ghey, expressed her feelings of sorrow for the teenagers but also remarked that they showed no empathy for Brianna when they left her bleeding to death after their premeditated and vicious attack. The case has shed light on the disturbing influence of the dark web on young individuals and the tragic consequences of transphobia. At just 16 years old, Jenkinson and Ratcliffe have been given life imprisonment, a stark reminder of the devastating impact of hate and violence.