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Jury retires in Goth attack trial Boy convicted of Goth park murder
(about 3 hours 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. A 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of murder after he kicked a woman to death because she was a Goth.
The teenager is accused of killing Sophie Lancaster, 20, in a Lancashire park after he and four other youths assaulted her boyfriend Robert Maltby. Brendan Harris set upon 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. Ryan Herbert, 16, had already admitted murdering Miss Lancaster. The judge lifted a ban on their identification.
The court heard the couple, who lived in Bacup, were targeted because they looked different. Preston Crown Court heard that 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 21-year-old 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. I am convinced Sophie was killed simply because of the way she looked Sylvia Lancaster, victim's mother
Robert Maltby was seriously injured Prosecutor Michael Shorrock had told the court the gang had turned on the young couple simply because they were Goths and dressed differently to them.
The teenager told police he did not know why he landed the first blow and was just "drunk and showing off". The accused admitted 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.
The boy, giving evidence at the two-week trial, said he stood aside as up to four youths attacked Mr Maltby. But a number of witnesses, all aged between 14 and 17, described how the boy was "in the thick of it" as he joined in the kicking and stamping of Miss Lancaster.
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. Both Harris and Herbert pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Mr Maltby, along with three other males, two aged 17 and one 16, who still cannot be named.
He told the jury that the 16-year-old was solely responsible for her death. Judge Anthony Russell QC praised the families of both Miss Lancaster and Mr Maltby for their dignity "during what must have been a very, very harrowing ordeal".
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. class="" href="/1/hi/england/lancashire/7315258.stm">Anger of attack survivor class="" href="/1/hi/england/lancashire/7314306.stm">Darker side of Goth life
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. He also thanked witnesses who had helped the victims and had given evidence in court. He ordered them to be awarded £250 each.
None of the teenagers can be named because of their age. The judge said that he was duty bound to give Harris and Herbert life sentences but that he would set the tariffs on 28 April after reading pre-sentence reports.
In a statement released after the verdict, Sylvia Lancaster said her daughter's death was a tragedy to both the family and wider society.
She said: "First, obviously, I have lost an adoring and adorable daughter. She was intelligent, brave, courageous and had a social conscience beyond her years.
"Her death has also ruined the lives of those responsible as well as the lives of their families.
Harris and Herbert will be sentenced on 28 April
"On a wider scale, it is a tragedy for a society which, in the past, has prided itself on its tolerance.
"I am convinced Sophie was killed simply because of the way she looked. She did not necessarily conform to the ideals of those who took her life."
Det Insp Dean Holden, of Lancashire Police, described the attackers as "cowards" - but praised youngsters who witnessed the attack and summoned help while trying to look after the victims.
He said: "This attack was senseless, brutal, vicious and, in my opinion, very cowardly.
"Three other youngsters did do the right thing, staying behind and contacting the emergency services and rendering first aid, and they gave evidence under a lot of pressure. They showed a great deal of courage."
Goths emerged as a youth subculture in the early 1980s.
Although initially used to describe a form of music, it has evolved to encompass literature, art and fashion, with its exponents typically dressing in dark clothing.