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Boys jailed for park Goth murder | Boys jailed for park Goth murder |
(10 minutes later) | |
Two teenage boys have been jailed for life for the murder of a woman killed because she was dressed as a Goth. | Two teenage boys have been jailed for life for the murder of a woman killed because she was dressed as a Goth. |
Sophie Lancaster was kicked and stamped to death by Brendan Harris, 15, and Ryan Herbert, 16, in Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Lancashire, last summer. | Sophie Lancaster was kicked and stamped to death by Brendan Harris, 15, and Ryan Herbert, 16, in Stubbylee Park in Bacup, Lancashire, last summer. |
The pair turned on Miss Lancaster, 20, after she tried to get Harris, Herbert and three other youths to stop attacking her boyfriend, Robert Maltby. | The pair turned on Miss Lancaster, 20, after she tried to get Harris, Herbert and three other youths to stop attacking her boyfriend, Robert Maltby. |
Harris must serve a minimum of 18 years and Herbert, 16 years, the judge said. | Harris must serve a minimum of 18 years and Herbert, 16 years, the judge said. |
Judge Anthony Russell QC, sentencing at Preston Crown Court, said: "This was feral thuggery. | Judge Anthony Russell QC, sentencing at Preston Crown Court, 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." | "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." |
Victims' 'different' | Victims' 'different' |
Miss Lancaster, a gap-year student, cradled 21-year-old Mr Maltby as she begged the gang to stop beating him in the park in August 2007. | Miss Lancaster, a gap-year student, cradled 21-year-old Mr Maltby as she begged the gang to stop beating him in the park in August 2007. |
During his trial, the court heard how Harris - who had denied murder - delivered a flying kick to her head before Herbert kicked her in the face. | During his trial, the court heard how Harris - who had denied murder - delivered a flying kick to her head before Herbert kicked her in the face. |
The injuries to both victims were so severe that paramedics could not tell which gender either was. | The injuries to both victims were so severe that paramedics could not tell which gender either was. |
Both fell into comas but Miss Lancaster never regained consciousness and died in hospital 13 days later. | Both fell into comas but Miss Lancaster never regained consciousness and died in hospital 13 days later. |
The defendants did not know the couple, who were both Goths, and the only motive was they simply looked different from their attackers, the court heard. | The defendants did not know the couple, who were both Goths, and the only motive was they simply looked different from their attackers, the court heard. |
Three other teenagers - two aged 17 and a 16-year-old - who admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Maltby will be sentenced later. | Three other teenagers - two aged 17 and a 16-year-old - who admitted causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Maltby will be sentenced later. |