The Liver Building is tonight lit up 'for Brianna' in a touching tribute to the murdered 16-year-old after her killers were today found guilty.
The 'fearless' 16-year-old died after being stabbed 28 times in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington on the afternoon of Saturday, February 11, this year. Two teens, who are also aged 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of her murder after a trial Manchester Crown Court.
Girl X, from Warrington, and Boy Y, from Leigh, were unanimously convicted by a jury of seven men and five women after four hours and 40 minutes deliberations. Hours after the verdicts Liverpool's Liver Building was illuminated pink in memory of Brianna in a touching tribute.
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The official social media account for the landmark tweeted a picture of the building with the caption "for Brianna". Giving a statement outside Manchester Crown Court following the verdict, Brianna's mother Esther Ghey, described her daughter as "funny, witty and fearless".
She said: "Brianna was larger than life. She was funny, witty, and fearless. We miss Brianna so much, and our house feels empty without her laughter.
"To now know how scared my usually fearless child must have been when she was alone in the park with someone that she called her friend will haunt me forever.
"Prior to the trial, I have had moments where I felt sorry for the defendants because they have ruined their own lives as well as ours. But now, knowing the true nature of the two and seeing neither display an ounce of remorse for what they have done to Brianna, I have lost any sympathy that I previously had for them and I am glad that they will spend many years in prison and away from society."
Brianna's dad, Peter Spooner, also spoke outside Manchester Crown Court about his "beautiful" daughter who he was "proud" of.
He said: “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."
Mrs Justice Yip, the judge who has presided over the trial over the past four weeks, will pass sentence in the New Year.
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