Brianna Ghey investigates the killer's school transfer

The school expulsion of a girl who later murdered her classmate Brianna Ghey will be examined in the inquest into her death, a court has heard.

Brianna, who was transgender, was stabbed to death in February 2023 by Scarlett Jenkinson and her then 15-year-old boyfriend Eddie Ratcliffe.

Jenkinson was transferred to Brianna's school in Warrington, Cheshire, after drugging a pupil with a cannabis-laced sweet.

A coroner told a pre-inquest hearing that her placement was under investigation.

Both Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were given minimum sentences of 22 and 20 years respectively earlier this year, with judge Justice Yip ruling that the “frenzied” and “brutal” killing had elements of sadism, with a secondary motive being the victim's trans identity.

Brianna, 16, was a student at Birchwood High School in Warrington, where she was friends with Jenkinson.

Since she was 14, Jenkinson enjoyed watching videos of real killings and torture on the dark web, dreamed about murder and developed an interest in serial killers, her trial heard.

After her “managed transfer” from Culcheth High School, where Ratcliffe was a student, within weeks Jenkinson became obsessed with Brianna and began plotting her murder with Ratcliffe.

During a hearing at Warrington Coroner's Court, Jacqueline Devonish, senior coroner for Cheshire, outlined the scope of the inquest later this year.

Lawyers representing both Warrington Borough Council schools and children's services attended, along with Brianna's mother Esther Ghey.

“Endangered”

Ms Devonish said the investigation would look into “matters surrounding safeguarding” and “how Brianna was brought into contact with Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe”.

“In my view, that's the starting point and we know schools will have information about that and that's where we want to go with this investigation,” she said.

The story goes on

The coroner said she would consider whether it was “reasonably foreseeable that Brianna could have been at risk in the admission room with Scarlett Jenkinson”.

“Whether Birchwood High School was reasonably able to co-manage Brianna and Scarlett Jenkinson given their history and safeguarding considerations.”

Ms Devonish said the investigation would examine the “appropriateness or thoroughness” of the decision surrounding the school change, as well as Brianna's behavior and mental health.

The coroner also said she would also consider whether Brianna was adequately supported by relevant authorities involved in supporting people with issues relating to gender, eating disorders and mental health.

Agencies named in the hearing included the Gender GP Advisory Service and the Gender Identity Development Service.

A further preliminary inquest will take place on August 9th, before a full three-day inquest is due to begin on October 23rd.

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