Media commentator Paula London has demanded the naming of young offenders in the wake of the brutal murder of Brianna Ghey.
The two teenagers found guilty of killing the 16-year-old were named as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, who were just 15 when they stabbed her 28 times with a hunting knife.
Speaking on GB News, London became embroiled in a feisty row with lawyer Anthony Miller, who branded her comments “ridiculous”.
“For some reason in this country, we protect criminals too much”, London said.
GB NEWS
“Our legal system used to be the envy of the world, now it’s laughed at around the world.
“The thing that worries me is, these killers were particularly evil and they may enjoy notoriety. They should be named 100 per cent.”
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Miller responded by arguing that Britain’s legal system is “not laughed at around the world”, adding that he felt London’s assertion was “ridiculous”.
“We’re making pop stars out of teen murderers now”, he added.
“We have two teenagers who were absolutely obsessed with the murder of Brianna. They were accessing dark places of the internet to watch murders on video.
“You have just given teen people with those same views celebrities to look up to. I certainly would not have named them.”
Screen grab taken from Ring doorbell footage shows Brianna Ghey leaving home on the morning of her murderHANDOUT
Two teenagers were found guilty of the murder of Brianna Ghey earlier this weekHandoutGB News host Stephen Dixon waded in to question whether we “need to know” about young offenders when the crime is so “heinous”.
“It becomes a wide debate”, Miller said. “As a society, what have we gained from knowing their names?”
“For them, everything has changed. Why would they rehabilitate?”, he asked.
“They now have an image and a reputation to wear and live up to, why would they rehabilitate?”
London argued that criminals being named could mean “extra punishment” in jail.
“The guy especially, his inmates could be very angry with him”, she said.
“He could face extra punishment if he has been named.”
After being named for the first time yesterday ahead of their sentencing, the now 16-year-olds Jenkinson and Ratcliffe were told by judge that the murder they carried out was "brutal" and "sadistic".
Speaking to GB News yesterday, Ex-Met Police Detective Peter Bleksley slammed the "vile" murderers of Brianna and said the details of how the horrific killing was carried out are "astonishing".
He told host Martin Daubney: "It is so astonishing, so brutal, and so vile. My thoughts go out to everyone who knew and loved Brianna, and I think Mrs Justice Yip, in her calm and measured way, has handed down the sentences that are appropriate.
"But they will of course only ever be released if there is a huge amount of rehabilitation work done in the next two decades."