Teen killers of Brianna Ghey, 16, given almost £200,000 of legal aid as figure set to rise

THE teenage killers of 16-year-old Brianna Ghey have been given almost £200,000 of legal aid — with the figure set to rise.

Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were both 15 when arrested last February.

They lured Brianna to a park near Warrington where she was stabbed 28 times.

The pair, now 16, blamed each other but were found guilty of murder at Manchester crown court in December.

Figures revealed under Freedom of Information laws show Ratcliffe’s legal team got £104,237, and Jenkinson’s £82,262, making a total of £186,499.

The Ministry of Justice said not all costs have been submitted.

In a response it said: “The figures are not the final costs on this case as the LAA is not yet in receipt of all the claims associated with recent proceedings.

“Where proceedings have recently concluded, further claims may continue to be made until the billing process has been completed by all of the lawyers involved.”

At Manchester Crown Court each of the pair – now 16 – denied murder and blamed the other for the killing, described as “horrific” by detectives.

A Legal Aid Agency spokesperson said: “Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe did not receive a penny of this money – it went directly to lawyers so the two could have a fair trial and be imprisoned for their crimes.”

Tory MP Nigel Mills said: “All this money has done is create more agony than there was before.

“It was obvious it was both of them who carried out the killing, and they have been allowed to put the family through extra hell.

“It is ridiculous so much Legal Aid money has been used for this purpose and the system needs reform.”