Chloe sustained stab wounds and was found in a Leeds street on Saturday morning
Archie Rycroft and Kayla Smith
The teenagers accused of murdering Chloe Watson Dransfield have been pictured for the first time.
Kayla Smith, 18, of Kennerleigh Avenue, Archie Rycroft, 19, of Middleton Park Road, were charged with murder alongside a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons. They all appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning and remanded into custody before their next hearing at the city’s Crown court on Thursday.
During the hearing, Mr 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.
Ms Smith is a self-employed beautician who runs a business called Luxe Aesthetics from her grandfather’s home in east Leeds. Wearing a grey tracksuit and leaning back on a wooden bench in a glass-framed dock, she spoke only to confirm her name, address and date of birth during the short hearing.
Chloe, 16, from Gomersal, died after being found with stab wounds in Kennerleigh Avenue, Austhorpe at around 6am on Saturday, March 28. In a statement following her death, her family said: “My beautiful princess Chloe. I cannot put into words how I feel that you are not here with me. 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 Mu, Connor, Courtney and Cienna.
“Our family is utterly devastated by the loss of Chloe. We miss every single thing about her. She was beautiful, full of joy, and had a wonderfully cheeky personality.
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“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.”
The three teenagers will appear at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.
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