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Teenagers jailed for life over Goth park murder
Two teenagers have been jailed for life for brutally murdering a young woman in a park because she was dressed as a Goth.
Sophie Lancaster, 20, was kicked and stamped to death as she begged the pair to stop beating her boyfriend in Bacup, Lancashire, last August.
Ryan Herbert, 16, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup, who admitted murder, received a 16-year minimum term.
His accomplice Brendan Harris, 15, of Spring Terrace, Bacup, Lancashire, who was convicted after a trial last month, was given a minimum of 18 years.
Passing sentence, Judge Anthony Russell QC said: "This was feral thuggery.
"It raises serious questions about the sort of society which exists in this country at the start of a new millennium which was heralded with such optimism."
Gap-year student Miss Lancaster cradled her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21, in her arms as she begged the two to stop beating him in Stubbylee Park last August.
Her plea was ignored as Harris delivered a flying kick to her head and Herbert volley-kicked her in the face "like a ball in flight".
The injuries to both victims were so severe that paramedics could not tell which sex either was. A clear footwear pattern was visible on Miss Lancaster's head.
Both fell into comas but Miss Lancaster never regained consciousness and died in hospital 13 days later.
Neither of the defendants knew the couple, who were both Goths, and the only motive was they simply looked different from them.
Sentencing them on Monday, the judge told Harris and Herbert: "This was a terrible case which has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it.
"At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for so doing, to obtain food.
"You have none and your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself."
Sadistic
Three other teenagers who took part in the initial attack on Mr Maltby can now be named for the first time after the judge lifted an order banning the press from identifying them.
Brothers Joseph, 17, and Danny Hulme, 16, both of Landgate, Whitworth, near Bacup, and Daniel Mallett, 17, of Rockcliffe Drive, Bacup, all pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Maltby. They did not take part in the attack on Sophie, the court was told.
Judge Russell jailed Mallett for four years and four months and the Hulme brothers for five years and 10 months each.
There was no reaction from the defendants but Hulme's mother left the court in tears.
Judge Russell said both victims were totally innocent and were subjected to cruel and sadistic behaviour.
He described the Goth community as "perfectly peaceful law-abiding people who pose no threat to anybody".
'Appalling'
Sophie's mother, Sylvia, 52, along with Mr Maltby's mother, father and brother, and 15 other friends and relatives, some in Goth clothing, sat in the jury box and seats alongside it.
Following the verdict last month, Miss Lancaster's mother said society needed to reflect on what had happened and make changes to prevent similar deaths.
She said she was uncertain she could continue her job as a youth worker - ironically trying to prevent teenagers following a life of crime.
Detectives investigating the murder criticised the conduct of the defendants and their families throughout the criminal proceedings as "appalling".
Harris and his mother were said to have been "laughing and joking" when they were first interviewed about the assaults.
Both the teenage killers had been drinking heavily on the night of the attack.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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