The teenagers accused of stabbing Brianna Ghey to death were linked to the murder scene by bottles of Dr Pepper and Coca Cola, a jury was told.
A girl and a boy, both of whom are aged 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, are currently standing trial at Manchester Crown Court charged with murdering the 16-year-old, who was knifed 28 times in the head, neck, back and chest during a "sustained and violent assault" in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington on February 11 this year. Girl X, from Warrington, and Boy Y, from Leigh, both deny this count.
Deanna Heer KC continued to deliver the prosecution's opening to a jury of seven men and five women today, Tuesday. The court heard that searches within the park revealed an unopened bottle of Dr Pepper near to where Brianna's body was found.
READ MORE: Live court updates as two teenagers appear over Brianna Ghey murder
Girl X's DNA was subsequently discovered on the cap. Meanwhile, Boy Y's DNA was recovered from the mouthpiece and cap of an empty bottle of Coca Cola.
They had been seen on CCTV purchasing such items in a Sainsbury's store in Culcheth earlier the same afternoon. After the stabbing, the two defendants were said to have "remained together as they made their way on foot back to Culcheth".
Brianna's blood-stained mobile phone would later be found down a drain in an area where they were seen on dashcam footage captured by a passing vehicle. Girl X then returned home and deleted a Snapchat conversation between herself and the deceased.
Boy Y was subsequently seen on CCTV "apparently wiping his hands, which appeared to be red in colour". He then boarded a bus back to Leigh from outside Culcheth Library and returned home.
At 4.28pm he messaged Girl X to ask "so how's your cat?". She replied: "Good lol, how's yours?"
Boy Y then told her "it keeps trying to purr". Ms Heer told jurors: "Thereafter, these two defendants remained in contact with each other.
"They continued to exchange messages. Including messages about the incident in Linear Park, keeping each other informed of press reports about developments in the investigation whilst at the same time feigning ignorance about what had happened – no doubt anticipating that their phones might be looked at in due course.”
At 5.25pm, Girl X told Boy Y in a message: "My brother just told me not to go to Linear Park 'cos a woman got stabbed."
He responded: "Jesus. Really?"
When Girl X "relayed information that police officers were in the park because a woman had been murdered", Boy Y added: "Holy c**p." Ms Heer added: "Throughout these conversations, Boy Y had been searching online for ways to combat anxiety."
At 7.18pm, he sent Girl X a screenshot of a news article confirming Brianna's death. She then viewed this story and shared it onwards in friends.
At 7.49pm, she asked Boy Y "when do you think they'll find out a name" before accessing videos of Brianna on Snapchat. Later, at 11.11pm. Girl X sent a further message saying: "Do you have anxiety about getting caught?"
Boy Y replied "probably". Girl X then said: "You’re not going to get caught.
"Don't worry. Police are s***e here."
The trial, before Mrs Justice Yip, continues. It is expected to last three to four weeks in total.
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