Teenagers deny murder of Chloe Watson Dransfield in Leeds

Three teenagers have pleaded not guilty to murdering a 16-year old girl who was stabbed to death in Leeds.

Kayla Smith, 18, Archie Rycroft, 19, and a 17-year old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared for a plea hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

All three denied murdering Chloe Watson Dransfield, who was found unconscious at an address on Kennerleigh Avenue, in Austhorpe, in the early hours of Saturday 28 March. She died in hospital a short time later.

Smith appeared via video link while Rycroft and the 17-year old boy attended in person. The defendants spoke only to confirm their names and dates of birth.

Judge Guy Kearl KC ordered the packed public galleries to be cleared during the hearing after shouting disrupted the proceedings.

The judge eventually allowed one family member for each of the defendants and the deceased to re-enter the courtroom.

All three defendants were remanded into custody and a trial was provisionally set for 10 November.

A 14-year old boy arrested last month on suspicion of murder remains on bail.

An inquest opening in Wakefield heard Chloe, from Gomersal, suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at Leeds General Infirmary.

In a tribute after her death, her family described Chloe as a "beautiful, full of joy and a cheeky personality", adding that they were "utterly devastated" by her loss.

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