The mother of Brianna Ghey said her daughter’s killers had not shown “an ounce of remorse” but urged “some empathy and compassion” for their parents, who wept in court as the guilty verdicts were announced.
Brianna, 16, was stabbed 28 times in a park in Warrington in February. Two teenagers, known as Girl X and Boy Y to protect their identities, were found guilty of her murder unanimously by a jury on Wednesday.
Brianna’s father, Peter Spooner, said his daughter was “going to be a star” and that she was a “beautiful girl to be proud of”.
Speaking outside Manchester crown court after the verdicts, her mother, Esther Ghey, said: “Prior to the trial I had moments where I felt sorry for the defendants because they had ruined their own lives as well as ours.
“But now, knowing the true nature and seeing neither display an ounce of remorse for what they have done to Brianna, I have lost all sympathy that I may have previously had for them.
“And I am glad that they will spend many years in prison and away from society.”
She thanked the jury for making the right decision: “I understand how difficult this must have been for you all, but you have worked hard and thanks to you, society is now a safer place.”
Describing Brianna as “larger than life” and “witty, funny and fearless”, she said: “We miss Brianna so much and our house feels empty without her laughter.
“To know how scared my usually fearless child must have been when she was alone in that park with someone that she called her friend will haunt me forever.”
After thanking the police and prosecutors, Brianna’s mother added: “Please have some empathy and compassion for the families of the young people convicted of this horrific crime. They too have lost a child and must live the rest of their lives knowing what their child has done.”
Spooner added: “It is impossible to put into words how the murder of my child has affected me. I never stopped loving her and never will.
“From when she was little, I remember all the faces she would pull to make me laugh, her cheeky giggle and funny dances are engraved in my memory. I knew she was going to be a star and the amount of support she has received and followers on TikTok have proved this.
“She would share her TikTok videos with me all the time and I was so proud of what she could do. Showing me how she would do her makeup, she had such an amazing talent and I enjoyed sharing that with friends and family.
“I look into her eyes, and they shine back at me, and I know she was a beautiful girl to be proud of. I hate how her life has been brutally taken away from her and she has been deprived of the life she wanted to live.”
He added: “It’s difficult to comprehend how some people can do these vile things in the world and don’t understand how cruel and heartbreaking their actions can be. The impact of Brianna’s death has not just affected me as her father but also my whole family.
“My heart bleeds every day for Brianna, and this will never go away and the amount of guilt I have can sometimes be unbearable. But I will ensure her memory lives on in my thoughts and dreams.”
