Brianna killer school move ‘appropriate’ – coroner

A coroner has shared her findings at the inquest into the tragic death of Brianna Ghey. According to Jacqueline Devonish, the senior coroner for Cheshire, the schools affiliated with one of Brianna’s killers could not have anticipated that she and her accomplice would plot to murder the 16-year-old.

Devonish determined that Brianna’s transfer to her school was appropriately handled, and did not contribute to her death. She also noted that while Brianna’s mental health made her susceptible to manipulation by Scarlet Jenkinson, it did not directly lead to her death. Brianna was murdered in a park in Warrington on February 11, 2023, by Jenkinson and Eddie Radcliffe, both of whom were 15 at the time. They had been convicted of her murder and received life sentences earlier this year.

The coroner stated that there were no grounds to suspect that the friendship between Brianna and Jenkinson was anything but genuine. Brianna had been attending Birchwood High School in Warrington, where she met Jenkinson, who had been transferred from Culcheth High School after a concerning incident involving cannabis-laced sweets.

The inquest revealed that following her transfer, Jenkinson became fixated on Brianna and ultimately conspired with Ratcliffe to murder her. Jenkinson had a history of viewing disturbing content on the dark web and fantasizing about violence, a fact unbeknownst to any adults or school personnel at either institution, according to testimony from the trial.

The three-day inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court focused on the safeguarding measures in place for all three teens and how Jenkinson and Brianna became acquainted. Despite Jenkinson’s troubling behavior, the coroner concluded that no one could have foreseen her intention to kill.

In her closing remarks, Devonish stated, “There was no reason for anyone to suspect the friendship was anything other than genuine. Birchwood High School provided a supportive environment for Brianna.” She emphasized that there were no visible signs indicating that Brianna was at risk from Jenkinson, adding, “She had been planning Brianna’s murder since late 2022, and Eddie Ratcliffe was the only other person aware of this plan.”

The coroner also highlighted that both Brianna and Jenkinson had their own struggles, with issues affecting their schooling. While Jenkinson had been involved in previous incidents of violence and substance abuse, Brianna was navigating her gender transition alongside diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Her mother, Esther Ghey, expressed concerns about Brianna’s mental well-being, noting that she had become “immersed in darkness” and was increasingly disengaged from school, finding solace and attention online through her social media presence.

The coroner ultimately ruled Brianna’s death as an unlawful killing but indicated that there was no necessity for preventative measures to be introduced at either school.