“This is an incredibly powerful and emotional film featuring two quite remarkable people – Brianna herself and her extraordinary mother Esther”
It was a crime which shocked the nation. A teenager who dared to be different was lured to a murderous trap.
The victim was 16-year-old Brianna Ghey. Her brutal killing – stabbed 28 times – on a linear park in Culcheth, triggered national grief and vigils held across the country which reflected strong solidarity, especially among the LGBTQ+ community.
A year ago this month the Manchester Evening News was able to reveal the full horrifying story after reporting restrictions were lifted.
Brianna’s so-called friend, Scarlett Jenkinson, was obsessed with serial killers. She was also obsessed with Brianna who she lured her to her death.
Jenkinson’s friend, Eddie Ratcliffe, who Brianna had never met, and too was fixated with cruelty, was also at the fatal rendezvous.
Last year both teenagers, who were 15 at the time of their heinous crime, were jailed for life.
Jenkinson was told she must serve at least 22 years, and Ratcliffe at least 20 years.
In December Ratcliffe was refused permission to appeal against the length of his sentence.
Now a new ITV documentary, “Brianna” will explore the brutal murder. Brianna’s mother Esther speaks in depth about her “beautiful daughter” and how the devastating loss has driven her campaign for change.
Due out later this year, the 75-minute documentary features interviews with friends and family, plus murder detectives.
Cheshire Constabulary has given access to their investigation, including evidence and custody suite interviews with the two killers, who were caught within 28 hours.
Detectives reveal how they quickly built up their case to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The documentary looks at Brianna’s upbringing in Birchwood, Warrington, through interviews with her close friends, who have never spoken before.
They tell for the first time about the “wonderful” and “amazing” person Brianna was, and speak about her trans journey. Esther also discusses her ongoing campaign to make the UK safer for children.
Esther is calling for a public inquiry into peer-on-peer violence, why it is on the rise, and what can be done to stop it happening.
She also wants the growing mental health crisis investigated among children and young people, and looks at whether social media is making children harm themselves or others.
The documentary will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV player and the TX and the date of its release will be confirmed in due course. ITV Studios will distribute the documentary internationally.
Esther said: “I took part in this documentary as a way to ensure that my family’s story was told truthfully, and people could get to know Brianna the way we did. I also wanted to find out more about the benefits of mindfulness, and the impact that harmful content online is having on teenagers and children.
“I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to speak to amazing people who highlight the issues that young people face in society right now. The statistics are shocking. I hope that this documentary contributes to the push for our children’s welfare, online and offline.”
Tom Giles, Controller of Current Affairs at ITV said: “We are grateful that Brianna’s family entrusted us to bring this deeply personal story to ITV. We are privileged to have the unique insight of Esther – as well as of the police force who worked on the case.
“The resulting documentary is a testament to the strength of character of Esther who, in the face of such an appalling crime, fights to this day to effect real change in society and to keep her daughter’s name alive.”
Mike Blair, Head of Documentaries, MultiStory Media, and Executive Producer of “Brianna” said: “This is an incredibly powerful and emotional film featuring at its heart two quite remarkable people – Brianna herself of course and her extraordinary mother Esther. The love Esther has for her child comes shining through; as does her determination to turn the loss of Brianna into something positive and good for other children.”