In December last year police dismissed any motives for a hate crime but by the time of sentencing the killers police had changed their statement to
an “exceptionally brutal” killing partly motivated by her transgender identity. Sentencing, Mrs Justice Yip said: “You both took part in a brutal and planned murder which was sadistic in nature and where a secondary motive was hostility towards Brianna because of her transgender identity.”
I do hope that does not give them grounds for appeal. The transgender “hate” will be an aggravating factor for sentencing. However, if it’s not been established during the trial it could open the door for an appeal.