One of two teenagers accused of murdering 16-year-old Brianna Ghey has pleaded not guilty.
Brianna, a transgender girl from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, died after she was found with stab wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park on 11 February.
Two 16-year-olds – a boy from Leigh in Greater Manchester and a girl from Warrington – were charged with her murder. They cannot be named due to their age.
One of them entered a plea at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on Thursday. The other defendant did not enter a plea.
Reporting restrictions prevent the identification of which of the defendants entered the plea.
Parents of both teenagers, who appeared separately in the dock, were in court for the hearing.
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Mrs Justice Yip told the court: “It’s a case in which I know emotions are likely to run high, that’s very understandable. There has been a lot of publicity about it already.
“We’re going to make sure that this case proceeds in a calm manner in court in a way that is going to be entirely fair to everybody.”
The case was adjourned until 4 October.
The defendants are both being held in secure accommodation.
A trial has been scheduled to begin on 27 November and is expected to last three weeks at Manchester Crown Court.
