Teenagers deny murder of 16-year-old girl

Three teenagers have denied murdering a 16-year-old girl who was stabbed to death in Leeds.

Chloe Watson Dransfield was found with a stab wound to the chest on Kennerleigh Avenue in Austhorpe on the morning of Saturday 28 March.

Kayla Smith, 18, Archie Rycroft, 19, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named because of his age, appeared at Leeds Crown Court earlier where they pleaded not guilty to murder.

A provisional date for the three-week trial was set for 10 November.

Smith, of Kennerleigh Avenue, appeared by video link from custody while Rycroft, of Middleton Park Road in Leeds, and the 17-year-old appeared in the dock.

All three spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and to enter their pleas.

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 victim to re-enter the courtroom.

All three defendants were remanded in custody and were told a further case management hearing would be held on a date to be fixed, probably in early August.

Chloe, from Gomersal, died in hospital following the incident in Kennerleigh Avenue at about 06:00 GMT.

Her family issued a tribute, saying they were "utterly devastated" and that she would "never be forgotten".

They added: "We miss every single thing about her. She was beautiful, full of joy, and had a wonderfully cheeky personality.

"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."

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

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

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