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)