A ‘SADISTIC’ killer’s placement in a classroom alongside Birchwood teenager Brianna Ghey will be investigated at the inquest into her death, a court has heard.
Brianna, died aged 16 after being lured to Culcheth Linear Park by Scarlett Jenkinson and her friend Eddie Ratcliffe, both 15 at the time.
Here, she was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife on February 11 last year.
Both killers were jailed for life earlier this year, with trial judge Mrs Justice Yip ruling that the ‘frenzied and brutal’ murder had elements of sadism, with a secondary motive being the victim’s trans identity.
Brianna had been a pupil at Birchwood High School, where she was befriended by Jenkinson after she had transferred from Culcheth High School following an incident where pupils were given cannabis-laced sweets.
Following her ‘managed transfer’ from Culcheth, where Ratcliffe was a pupil, within weeks Jenkinson became ‘obsessed’ by Brianna and began plotting her murder with Ratcliffe.
From the age of 14, Jenkinson had enjoyed watching videos of real killing and torture on the dark web, fantasised about murder and developed an interest in serial killers, her murder trial heard.
At a pre-inquest hearing at Warrington Coroner’s Court this morning, Thursday, senior coroner for Cheshire Jacqueline Devonish outlined the scope of the inquest later this year.
The full inquest will be attended by lawyers representing both schools and children’s services at Warrington Borough Council.
Brianna’s mother, Esther Ghey, attended the hearing this morning.
Ms Devonish said: “I think, essentially, matters around safeguarding we are going to be concerned with.
“How it is Brianna was brought into contact with Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe?
“In my view, that is the starting point, and we know that the schools will have information around that, and that is where we are going with this investigation.
“Whether it could reasonably have been foreseen that Brianna might have been placed at risk in the inclusion room with Scarlett Jenkinson.
“Whether Birchwood High School was appropriately placed to manage Brianna and Scarlett Jenkinson together in light of their histories and safeguarding considerations.”
Ms Devonish said the inquest will examine the ‘appropriateness or thoroughness’ of the decision around the school transfer, along with Brianna’s behaviour and mental health.
The coroner also said she will also examine whether Brianna, who was transgender, was appropriately supported by relevant agencies involved with supporting people with issues of gender, eating disorders and mental health.
Agencies named at the hearing included the Gender GP counselling service and the Gender Identity Development Service.
A further pre-inquest review will be held on August 9, before a full three-day inquest begins later this year on October 23.
Jenkinson, of Culcheth, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 on February 2 at Manchester Crown Court, with Ratcliffe’s minimum term set at 20 years.
Both were found guilty of murder by unanimous verdict by a jury following a four-week trial.
It was confirmed following the sentencing hearing that both Birchwood High School and Culcheth High School will participate in a child safeguarding practice review.
The purpose is to establish what learning can be identified from the circumstances, with professionals and agencies working together to safeguard children and young people.
It will also identify how the learning should be acted upon, review the effectiveness of policies and procedures and seek assurance about improvements made to multi-agency working.
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