Brianna Ghey: Blood found on murder-accused boy's clothing, jury told

Blood from a teenager who was stabbed 28 times was found on the clothing of a boy accused of her murder, a jury has been told.

Brianna Ghey, 16, died after the attack in Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, Cheshire, on 11 February.

Two teenagers, identified only as boy Y and girl X - neither of whom can be named because of their ages - deny murdering Brianna, who was transgender.

They blame each other for the attack, Manchester Crown Court has heard.

Warning: Some readers might find the following report distressing

Jurors were told Brianna's blood was found on boy Y's jacket and trainers, as well as on a hunting knife found in his bedroom.

Brianna's blood was not found on girl X's clothing, the court heard.

Boy Y claims he came into contact with Brianna after seeing girl X stabbing the teenager.

He says he then checked whether Brianna, lying on the ground, was still alive.

Brianna suffered head, neck, chest, back and side injuries after being lured to Linear Park in Culcheth.

Prosecutors alleged the accused planned to kill Brianna and were both guilty of murder, irrespective of who wielded the knife.

Forensic scientist Jane Roughley, who visited the scene and examined bloodstained items, said her conclusion was consistent with Brianna being attacked near a bench or by the top of some nearby steps, where the teenager's body was found.

She said the blood distribution near the steps suggested Brianna was attacked at a low level or while close to the ground.

Ms Roughley said the amount of blood on boy Y's jacket was more than she would expect if he had simply checked to see if Brianna was still alive.

Richard Pratt KC, who is defending girl X, said the boy's suggestion that girl X had committed the stabbing was "not realistic", with no blood on her clothing.

"If X used the knife 28 times, to not find it - extraordinary - not a drop of blood on her jacket," he said.

Mr Pratt suggested girl X's account that boy Y inflicted the injuries was consistent with the scientific evidence of no blood on her clothing.

Miss Roughley said the evidence did not suggest either way, as a wound could be inflicted without blood transferring.

Mr Pratt continued: "What scientific finding is inconsistent with girl X's account?"

Miss Roughly replied: "There are none."

Richard Littler KC, defending boy Y, said, "You are being asked the scientific significance of no blood from Brianna Ghey being found on the red jacket [belonging to girl X].

"Have you been in cases where items have been washed? Sometimes washing away blood?"

Miss Roughley replied: "In some instances, yes."

Mr Littler suggested that at the start of the attack, it was less likely for blood to flow freely and the victim's clothing could absorb it instead of it being transferred to the attacker.

He asked if the absence of blood on somebody's clothing may indicate they are not involved at all.

"It may also indicate they were involved at the time early on in an attack - putting a knife into someone's body, an area of body that was clothed," he continued.

"All that could explain why the attacker could not get blood on her?"

Ms Roughley replied: "Yes."

However forensic scientist Joanne Millington, who was called by the defence for boy Y, said she disagreed.

Ms Millington said analysis of blood patterns "do not assist" in finding whether boy Y was either active in an attack on Brianna or had interacted with her body to check whether she was alive.

Earlier, the jury heard girl X and boy Y were fixated with torture, violence and death and drew up a "kill list" of child victims.

An alleged "murder plan" to kill Brianna was found in the bedroom of girl X - who had an interest in serial killers - and she described herself as a "Satanist", the jury heard.

The trial continues.

If you're affected by the issues in this report, you can find support from BBC Action Line

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]