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28/04/2008
Teenagers Face Life Imprisonment For 'Goth' Murder
Two teenagers convicted of murdering a young Goth woman are facing life imprisonment.
Brendan Harris, 15 and Ryan Herbert, 16 appeared before Preston Crown Court today.
Harris of Spring Terrace, Bacup, was convicted of the murder of 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster last month while Herbert, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup pleaded guilty before the trial began.
Miss Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby - also a Goth - were attacked in Stubbylee Park last August. A jury heard that the couple were set upon by a group of five youths including Harris and Herbert for dressing differently.
Mr Maltby was punched after someone in the gang shouted "let's bang him".
It is believed that the gang attacked Miss Lancaster as she held her boyfriend in her arms and pleaded with them to stop beating and kicking him.
It has been reported that the injuries inflicted on the couple rendered them unrecognisable to paramedics.
Passing down the sentence, Judge Anthony Russell QC said "this was a terrible case which has shocked and ourtraged all who have heard about it" and told the teenagers "your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself".
The judge lifted an order baning the naming of three other youths, one aged 16 and two aged 17, who had admitted assaulting Mr Maltby.
Danny Hulme, 17, and his brother Joseph, 16, from Whitworth, near Bacup and Daniel Mallett, 17, of Rockcliffe Drive, all pleaded guilty to grevious bodily harm with intent.
The brothers have been handed down joint sentences of five years and 10 months while Mallett was sentenced to four years and four months behind bars.
Harris had previously denied murder.
(DS/JM)
Brendan Harris, 15 and Ryan Herbert, 16 appeared before Preston Crown Court today.
Harris of Spring Terrace, Bacup, was convicted of the murder of 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster last month while Herbert, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup pleaded guilty before the trial began.
Miss Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby - also a Goth - were attacked in Stubbylee Park last August. A jury heard that the couple were set upon by a group of five youths including Harris and Herbert for dressing differently.
Mr Maltby was punched after someone in the gang shouted "let's bang him".
It is believed that the gang attacked Miss Lancaster as she held her boyfriend in her arms and pleaded with them to stop beating and kicking him.
It has been reported that the injuries inflicted on the couple rendered them unrecognisable to paramedics.
Passing down the sentence, Judge Anthony Russell QC said "this was a terrible case which has shocked and ourtraged all who have heard about it" and told the teenagers "your behaviour on that night degrades humanity itself".
The judge lifted an order baning the naming of three other youths, one aged 16 and two aged 17, who had admitted assaulting Mr Maltby.
Danny Hulme, 17, and his brother Joseph, 16, from Whitworth, near Bacup and Daniel Mallett, 17, of Rockcliffe Drive, all pleaded guilty to grevious bodily harm with intent.
The brothers have been handed down joint sentences of five years and 10 months while Mallett was sentenced to four years and four months behind bars.
Harris had previously denied murder.
(DS/JM)
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13 June 2008
Teenagers Appeal Life Sentences For 'Goth' Murder
Two teenagers jailed for life for the murder a young 'Goth' woman are appealing their sentences. Sophie Lancaster, 20, and her boyfriend Robert Maltby – also a Goth – were attacked in Stubbylee Park in March by a gang of five youths. Mr Maltby was punched after someone in the gang shouted "let's bang him".
Teenagers Appeal Life Sentences For 'Goth' Murder
Two teenagers jailed for life for the murder a young 'Goth' woman are appealing their sentences. Sophie Lancaster, 20, and her boyfriend Robert Maltby – also a Goth – were attacked in Stubbylee Park in March by a gang of five youths. Mr Maltby was punched after someone in the gang shouted "let's bang him".
29 October 2008
Teenage Goth Murderer's Sentence Reduced
One of the teenagers who murdered a young woman because she was dressed as a 'goth' has had his sentence reduced. Ryan Herbert, 16, of Bacup, Lancashire, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster last year.
Teenage Goth Murderer's Sentence Reduced
One of the teenagers who murdered a young woman because she was dressed as a 'goth' has had his sentence reduced. Ryan Herbert, 16, of Bacup, Lancashire, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster last year.
10 March 2008
Teen Pleads Guilty In 'Goth' Kiling Trial
A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the murder of a 20-year-old woman who was attacked in a Lancashire Park last year, at Preston Crown Court today. The youth admitted to the murder of Sophie Lancaster and attacking her boyfriend Robert Maltby on August 11, last year.
Teen Pleads Guilty In 'Goth' Kiling Trial
A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the murder of a 20-year-old woman who was attacked in a Lancashire Park last year, at Preston Crown Court today. The youth admitted to the murder of Sophie Lancaster and attacking her boyfriend Robert Maltby on August 11, last year.
07 September 2007
Five Youths Charged With Murder Over Park Attack
Five youths have been charged with the murder of a 20-year-old woman who was attacked as she walked through a park in Lancashire. Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, were beaten up on Stubbylee Park on 11 August. Miss Lancaster was left with serious head and facial injuries. She died almost two weeks later.
Five Youths Charged With Murder Over Park Attack
Five youths have been charged with the murder of a 20-year-old woman who was attacked as she walked through a park in Lancashire. Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, were beaten up on Stubbylee Park on 11 August. Miss Lancaster was left with serious head and facial injuries. She died almost two weeks later.
26 September 2005
British man killed by crocodile
A British man whose body was discovered in northern Australia at the weekend is believed to have been killed by a crocodile. Russell Harris, 37, from Eastwood, Nottingham, disappeared on Saturday, while snorkelling with a friend off Picnic Beach on the island of Groote Eylandt, off the north east coast of Australia.
British man killed by crocodile
A British man whose body was discovered in northern Australia at the weekend is believed to have been killed by a crocodile. Russell Harris, 37, from Eastwood, Nottingham, disappeared on Saturday, while snorkelling with a friend off Picnic Beach on the island of Groote Eylandt, off the north east coast of Australia.
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