A SECOND youth has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a Warrington teenager.

On February 11 of this year, Brianna Ghey was found on a path at Culcheth Linear Park with multiple stab wounds.

Brianna, who was a Birchwood High School pupil, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Following her death, two suspects, a 16-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy, were arrested.

The pair, who cannot be named or identified due to legal reasons, were later charged with her murder.

In July, the two teenagers appeared before Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for a hearing where one of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the murder of Brianna Ghey.

A plea date was set for the second defendant for a hearing which took place at Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) this morning, Wednesday.

Here, they also pleaded not guilty to the murder of Brianna Ghey.

Reporting restrictions prevent the identification of which of the defendants entered the plea.

A trial date has already been set for November 27 at Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square), and this trial date is expected to remain fixed.

The girl, from Warrington, and the boy, from Leigh, are both currently held in secure accommodation and were both in the dock for the hearing.


Parents of both teenagers were in the court, with other relatives and half a dozen members of the press in a public gallery upstairs.

At the hearing in July, Justice Amanda Yip, presiding over the case, said: “It is very important that this trial, when it happens, proceeds fairly.

“This is important for the defendants, but also for Brianna’s family, that a fair trial happens.

“It is a case where a lot of emotions will run high, which is very understandable.

“There has been a lot of publicity about this case already. We are going to make sure the case proceeds in a calm manner in court and is entirely fair for everyone.

 “We have to ensure when the jury comes to trial, they do so where they are able to judge just on the evidence.

“It is really important to protect that for everyone concerned with the case.”

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against both defendants are active, and that they have the right to a fair trial.

It is extremely important that there should be no commenting or sharing of information or speculation which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.