Three teenagers appear in court charged with murdering 16-year-old girl

The parents of three teenagers accused of stabbing a 16-year-old girl to death wept in court as their children appeared before magistrates charged with murder.

Chloe Watson Dransfield was found with stab wounds in a street in the Austhorpe area of Leeds on Saturday morning.

On Tuesday, Kayla Smith, 18, Archie Rycroft, 19 and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court charged with Chloe’s murder.

The three defendants appeared together in the dock, wearing grey prison-issued tracksuits with dock officers sitting between them.

The public gallery was filled with members of the defendants’ families, who started to sob when they were brought into court.

The hearing was told the three teenagers were charged jointly with murdering Chloe on Saturday.

Smith and Rycroft were remanded into custody, while the 17-year-old was remanded into secure accommodation until their next hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.

District Judge Mark Daley told them: “You are all charged with murder. That can only be tried at the crown court, and only the crown court can decide whether to grant you bail or not.

“Therefore there has to be a hearing at the crown court very soon. That will be on Thursday April 2.”

No pleas on the murder charges were indicated during the hearing.

Rycroft pleaded not guilty to two charges of burglary and one of theft, relating to separate incidents in March.

The 17-year-old boy pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of burgling a house in August.

Chloe, from Gomersal, died in hospital following an incident in Kennerleigh Avenue, in the Austhorpe area of the West Yorkshire city, at about 6am on Saturday.

West Yorkshire Police said on Tuesday that Smith, of Kennerleigh Avenue, Leeds; Rycroft, of Middleton Park Road, Leeds; and the 17-year-old boy were charged with murder.

A force spokesman said another 18-year-old man, from Leeds, who was arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody.

An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl, who were also arrested on suspicion of murder, have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

On Monday evening, Chloe’s father and other family members issued a tribute, saying they were “utterly devastated” and she would “never be forgotten”.

“We miss every single thing about her. She was beautiful, full of joy, and had a wonderfully cheeky personality,” they said.

“She embraced life with such happiness, and she had her whole future ahead of her. Chloe was loved by everyone who knew her, and the absence she leaves behind is immeasurable.

“We will miss her forever, she will never be forgotten. Love you always and forever, Dad, Sacha, Reuben, Mia, Amelia, Grandma, Grandad and Uncle Jordan.”

In a separate tribute, Chloe’s mother said she “cannot put into words” the loss of her “beautiful princess”.

“You are my life, my world, my best friend and I know that I am yours. I cannot live without you – I need you.

“You are stunning, confident, loyal, honest and my family-oriented princess.

“When you walk into any room it lights up with your bubbly personality. There is so much I could say. There’s a big hole in my heart that can never be filled.

“Your two sisters and big brother will always love and miss you to infinity. You will always and forever be in our hearts. Love Mum, Connor, Courtney and Cienna.”

Flowers were laid in the quiet street of bungalows and scenes-of-crime officers in white protective clothing were seen going into one of the homes on Monday.