Teenagers charged with murder of 16-year-old girl in Leeds

31 Mar 2026 • 5:20 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Three teenagers have been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Chloe Watson Dransfield, who was fatally stabbed in Leeds.
  • Chloe was discovered unconscious and seriously injured in Kennerleigh Avenue, Austhorpe, early on Saturday morning and later died in hospital.
  • Kayla Smith, 18, Archie Rycroft, 19, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged and remanded in custody, set to appear before Leeds Magistrates’ Court.
  • An 18-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of murder, while another 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl have been released on bail pending further inquiries.
  • Chloe's family released a tribute expressing their devastation, describing her as "beautiful, full of joy, and with a wonderfully cheeky personality," and an online fundraising page has raised nearly £15,000.

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