Two Teenagers & Youth Charged With Murder of Chloe Watson After Fatal Leeds Stabbing

Three teenagers have appeared before Leeds Crown Court charged with the murder of 16-year-old Chloe Watson Dransfield, who died after a stabbing in the early hours of Saturday morning following a party in Leeds.

Kayla Smith, 18,

Kayla Smith, 18, of Kennerleigh Avenue, Archie Rycroft, 19, of Middleton Park Road, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared via video link for a preliminary hearing lasting approximately 12 minutes. All three are jointly charged murder.

The court heard that Chloe Watson Dransfield, from Gomersal, was found unconscious on Kennerleigh Avenue in Austhorpe shortly before 6am on 29 March 2026. Emergency services attended and she was taken to hospital, where she died a short time later

No pleas were entered during the hearing. Each defendant spoke only to confirm their name and date of birth. No applications for bail were made.

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Recorder of Leeds, His Honour Judge Guy Kearl KC, remanded all three defendants in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing listed for 1 May. A provisional trial date has been set for 10 November, with proceedings expected to last more than two weeks.

Addressing the timetable, Judge Kearl said: “It’s important that this matter is dealt with as soon as possibly can be – any delay should be kept to a minimum.”

The court was informed that a second post-mortem examination was not required.

The prosecution case is that the defendants were involved in a fatal stabbing which followed a party in the Austhorpe area. The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.

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West Yorkshire Police confirmed that a further 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. An 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy who had also been arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

The case will return to Leeds Crown Court on 1 May for a plea and trial preparation hearing as the murder investigation continues.