02 February 2024 , 14:16
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Brianna Ghey's killer Eddie Ratcliffe showed five crucial signs which gave away his guilt during a police interview, according to a body language expert.
Ratcliffe, 16, was convicted of murder alongside Scarlett Jenkinson, also 16, after the transgender student was stabbed 28 times in a twisted attack in Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington last year. It was earlier revealed that Jenkinson made a series of verbal admissions after being seen by a psychiatrist following their conviction. However, Ratcliffe displayed many subtle indicators that he was at fault with his physical expressions such as the way his eyes gazed and his mouth expression.
In a photo released of Ratcliffe, he could be seen sat with his head slightly tilted whilst he was positioned in a "self-diminishing" pose. And expert Judi James says his posture was a huge sign of the heinous crime he had carried out. Analysing the image, she said the teenager looked detached as she revealed the other major clues as the position of his shoulders, the dropping of his chin and his hands.
Speaking to The Mirror, she said: "Eddie Ratcliffe looks much more disconnected here. His eye gaze is mainly averted to suggest much less connection with the interviewer and the conversation. His mouth expression looks sullen. His shoulders are hunched and his elbows held close to his torso in a self-diminishing pose and he seems to have been allowed to hold a ball during the interview, which allows him to avoid hand gestures as he hugs the ball in what appears to be a self-comfort ritual, like hugging a cuddly toy. His hands look relaxed as they are folded over the ball but as he engages in some eye contact he pulls the ball up and cuddles it as though using it for protection.
The expert said the positioning of his hands was a clear indication of guilt (PA)"His hands hunch over the ball and his chin drops as though he is trying to become invisible. He reaches for another prop to hide behind in the shape of the cup." Her comments come after Deanna Heer KC, prosecutor, revealed the extent of Ratcliffe's involvement at Manchester Crown Court. Describing what happened in the moments of Brianna's death, she said: "She (Scarlett) said Eddie had thrown Brianna to the floor and stabbed her three or four times then he panicked and said he did not want to kill her, so she carried on and stabbed her a number of times. When asked how many, she answered, ‘A lot.’ She was satisfied and excited by what she was doing.”
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Brianna was fatally attacked in a park in Warrington last year (PA)
The killers had previously attempted to overdose Brianna on tablets (PA)The prosecuter also shared how Ratcliffe had previously displayed dislike towards Brianna as he used derogatory words when speaking about her transgender identity. "Nevertheless, there is evidence that the murder of Brianna was motivated by hostility towards her transgender," she said. "In Eddie’s case, he spoke about Brianna in disparaging terms in respect of her transgender identity. In Scarlett’s case, although she did not use language to that extent, it can be inferred she encouraged Eddie to kill Brianna knowingly his transphobic attitudes would make him more likely to do so."