One of Brianna Ghey’s killers, who was jailed for a minimum of 20 years for her murder, has lodged an appeal over his sentence.
Eddie Ratcliffe was 15 when he and Scarlett Jenkinson lured Brianna to Linear Park in Culcheth, near Warrington, where she was stabbed 28 times in her head, neck and back with a hunting knife in a “frenzied and ferocious” attack on 11 February last year.
Ratcliffe was jailed for a minimum of 20 years and Jenkinson for at least 22 years.
Judge Mrs Justice Yip said the pair would be jailed until they “no longer present a danger” to the public.
She told them the terms are “lengthy for offenders of your age, albeit significantly less than an equivalent sentence for an adult”.
She added: “How long you will actually serve will not be decided today.
“You will only be released if in the future it is decided that you no longer present a danger – that decision will be for the parole board.
“If you remain a danger you will serve very much longer than the minimum term and may never be released.”
There was no reaction or flicker of emotion from Ratcliffe or Jenkinson as they were sentenced.
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‘Ultimate betrayal’
Anxious and vulnerable Brianna, 16, was lured from her home in what detectives described as the “ultimate betrayal” by a girl with “murderous intent”.
The judge referred to Jenkinson’s duplicity during her sentencing remarks, saying: “Scarlett, you make up stories.”
She added: “Your motivation, Scarlett, was to act out your fantasies. You wanted to see the pure horror on Brianna’s face.
“Two days before the murder you said you were excited. Brianna was killed with exceptional brutality.”
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But the judge also said she was “certain” Ratcliffe inflicted at least some of Brianna’s injuries because of evidence against him – such as blood on his clothing.
However, she also said Ratcliffe did not show the same “interest” in killing as Jenkinson.
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The judge added: “Both of you played a full part in killing Brianna and both intended she should die.”
