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| Jury retires in Goth attack trial | Jury retires in Goth attack trial |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The jury in the trial of a 15-year-old boy accused of kicking a woman to death because she was dressed as a Goth, has retired to consider its verdict. | The jury in the trial of a 15-year-old boy accused of kicking a woman to death because she was dressed as a Goth, has retired to consider its verdict. |
| The teenager is accused of killing Sophie Lancaster, 20, in a Lancashire park after he and four other youths assaulted her boyfriend Robert Maltby. | The teenager is accused of killing Sophie Lancaster, 20, in a Lancashire park after he and four other youths assaulted her boyfriend Robert Maltby. |
| Preston Crown Court heard the assaults in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, in August last year were "totally unprovoked". | Preston Crown Court heard the assaults in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, in August last year were "totally unprovoked". |
| A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to Miss Lancaster's murder. | A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to Miss Lancaster's murder. |
| The court heard the couple, who lived in Bacup, were targeted because they looked different. | The court heard the couple, who lived in Bacup, were targeted because they looked different. |
| Miss Lancaster, a gap year student, died from serious head injuries two weeks after the incident while Mr Maltby survived. | Miss Lancaster, a gap year student, died from serious head injuries two weeks after the incident while Mr Maltby survived. |
| The accused admits starting the chain of events by punching Mr Maltby once in the face but said he then played no further part in attacking him or Miss Lancaster. | |
| Robert Maltby was seriously injured | Robert Maltby was seriously injured |
| The teenager told police he did not know why he landed the first blow and was just "drunk and showing off". | The teenager told police he did not know why he landed the first blow and was just "drunk and showing off". |
| The boy, giving evidence at the two-week trial, said he stood aside as up to four youths attacked Mr Maltby. | The boy, giving evidence at the two-week trial, said he stood aside as up to four youths attacked Mr Maltby. |
| He then looked on as Miss Lancaster was hit in the face with a kick from the 16-year-old boy who has admitted her murder. | He then looked on as Miss Lancaster was hit in the face with a kick from the 16-year-old boy who has admitted her murder. |
| He told the jury that the 16-year-old was solely responsible for her death. | He told the jury that the 16-year-old was solely responsible for her death. |
| A number of witnesses, all aged between 14 and 17, claimed he was "in the thick of it" though, as he joined in the kicking and stamping of Miss Lancaster. | A number of witnesses, all aged between 14 and 17, claimed he was "in the thick of it" though, as he joined in the kicking and stamping of Miss Lancaster. |
| Both the 15-year-old and the 16-year-old have pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Maltby, along with three other males, two aged 17 and one 16. | Both the 15-year-old and the 16-year-old have pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Maltby, along with three other males, two aged 17 and one 16. |
| None of the teenagers can be named because of their age. | None of the teenagers can be named because of their age. |