Tragically, 16-year-old Brianna Ghey of Birchwood, Warrington, Cheshire was found by members of the public on a path in Linear Park, Culcheth with fatal stab wounds. Just days before, Brianna had posted a TikTok video revealing she had been excluded from school and it was alleged she was also the victim of years of bullying due to her gender identity. Two teenagers, a 15-year-old boy and girl from the area, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Despite the assertions of Brianna’s friends that she had been “bullied and gang beaten at school for years,” Cheshire Police have stated there is no evidence that Brianna was the victim of a hate crime. According to her friends, the bullying was purely due to her gender identity.
Emma Mills, Head Teacher at the school Brianna attended, expressed shock and grief at the tragedy. “This is understandably a very difficult and distressing time for many and we will do our utmost to support our pupils and wider school community,” she said.
Friends and family of the beloved teen have paid tribute to her, describing her as “beautiful, witty and hilarious,” with a “larger-than-life” personality. On her now-deleted TikTok account, Brianna expressed her exclusion from school in a video post five days before her murder.
In response to the tragedy, a fundraising campaign has been established in memory of Brianna, which has already raised more than £50,000 to cover funeral expenses and support her family during this difficult time. Dozens of floral tributes have been left at the scene in honor of the young teen’s life.
