UK teens on trial accused of killing transgender girl

LONDON: A 16-year-old transgender girl was killed in a “sustained and violent assault” by two other teens with a “preoccupation” for “violence, torture and death”, a UK court was told on Monday.

Brianna Ghey was stabbed 28 times to her head, neck, back and chest in Warrington, northwest England, in February, jurors heard, as her two alleged killers´ trial got under way. Her body was discovered by dog walkers in a park. The case drew international attention and shock in Britain, in particular after two 15-year-olds were charged with her murder.

The pair -- a boy and a girl now aged 16 who cannot be named because of their ages -- discussed killing Ghey in the days and weeks before she died, the prosecutor at Manchester Crown Court said.

The jury heard each defendant deny murder and deny participating in killing Ghey, who was born male but lived as a female. Prosecutor Deanna Heer said each defendant “blames the other” but that both were culpable.