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| Boy convicted of Goth park murder | Boy convicted of Goth park murder |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of murder after he kicked a woman to death because she was a Goth. | A 15-year-old boy has been found guilty of murder after he kicked a woman to death because she was a Goth. |
| Brendan Harris set upon 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". |
| Ryan Herbert, 16, had already admitted murdering Miss Lancaster. The judge lifted a ban on their identification. | Ryan Herbert, 16, had already admitted murdering Miss Lancaster. The judge lifted a ban on their identification. |
| Preston Crown Court heard that 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 21-year-old 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. |
| I am convinced Sophie was killed simply because of the way she looked Sylvia Lancaster, victim's mother | I am convinced Sophie was killed simply because of the way she looked Sylvia Lancaster, victim's mother |
| 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. | 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 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| Robert Maltby was seriously injured | |
| He also thanked witnesses who had helped the victims and had given evidence in court. He ordered them to be awarded £250 each. | He also thanked witnesses who had helped the victims and had given evidence in court. He ordered them to be awarded £250 each. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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 | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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. |