Brianna Ghey murder latest: ‘Pure evil’ killers Eddie Ratcliffe and Scarlett Jenkinson face sentencing – as boy does Sudoku puzzles in court

Brianna Ghey’s stepdad Wes Powell has described having to “sit and listen to more lies” from his stepdaughter’s “predatory” killers in court. 

His victim impact statement, which was written last year, is in full here…

“My name is Wes Powell. I have been Brianna’s stepdad for the past nine years. Throughout February and March this year our home was filled with the sound of pain filled cries and sobbing. Because on Saturday 11 February, our lives were torn apart and forever changed. 

“Our memories will always be divided into two parts. What happened before that day and what happened after that day. The moment the police officer informed us of not only Brianna’s sudden death but also the horrific nature of her murder will always be the worst moment of our lives. The memories of identifying Brianna’s lifeless body and carrying her coffin during her funeral have also been burnt into my mind and will haunt me for as long as I live. 

“Brianna’s mum and sister shared a bed in the days that followed and I laid with them until they fell asleep trying to provide what little comfort and security that I could. We feared living in our own home and we feared that our family could be attacked again. The thought of Brianna laying face down in the dirt, terrified, in severe pain, covered in blood and all alone without her family for comfort, breaks my heart and fills me with sorrow. Brianna was so full of life and now our home feels empty and silent without her. The collection of memories that we have of Brianna will always remain the same and it saddens me greatly that we will never have the chance to add to that collection.

“I often sit in Brianna’s room alone trying to picture what her room used to look like. I imagine her laying on her bed texting her friends and watching TV like she always did. I try to remember what her laughter and voice sounded like which could often be heard coming from her room. But now when I look I see only an urn where Brianna should be laying. 

“Last month would have been Brianna’s 17th birthday. Instead of laughter, singing, cake and pizza we sat in quiet contemplation. In two weeks’ time it will be our first Christmas without Brianna. Shortly after that it will be the anniversary of her murder and shortly after that the anniversary of her funeral. The cycle continues and our suffering will never end.

“I watched my partner work hard in higher education for years in order to get her dream career that she can no longer bring herself to continue. I watched Brianna’s sister work hard throughout school and college with the aim of going to university with her friends, only for this opportunity to be snatched away from her due to this trauma. 

“In the months that followed Brianna’s death I attended several sessions at a men’s mental health charity support group in order to try and come to terms with what happened and deal with my emotions. It was here where I expressed feelings of guilt for failing to protect my family. 

“Brianna had a large online following but in reality she was lonely, vulnerable and in need of a close friend. Both Eddie and Scarlett knew this and preyed upon her vulnerabilities acting as two predators stalking their prey. Their refusal of guilt has forced us through a further four weeks of torment. As if we have not suffered enough. During this trial, we have observed a lack of remorse, a lack of any human emotion and we have sat and listened to yet even more lies.

“Both Eddie and Scarlett claim that Brianna’s welfare was their top priority on that day, when in reality their only concern was for themselves. It has been clear from this trial that self-preservation remains their number one priority. Brianna did not lose her life, it was stolen from her. I do not believe that society is a better or safer place with Scarlett or Eddie in it.”