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Gang to hear Goth murder appeal Goth murderer's sentence reduced
(about 6 hours later)
Two teenage boys who murdered a 20-year-old woman dressed as a Goth by stamping on her head, will hear later if judges have granted their appeal. One of the teenage boys who kicked a 20-year-old woman to death because she was dressed as a Goth has had his murder sentence reduced.
Lawyers for Brendan Harris and Ryan Herbert, both of Bacup, Lancashire, believe their minimum terms of 18 and 16 years were too severe. Ryan Herbert, 16, of Bacup, Lancashire, was ordered to serve 16 years and three months for killing Sophie Lancaster.
Sophie Lancaster was kicked to death as she tried to protect her boyfriend. Herbert's sentence has been cut by nine months. Brendan Harris, 16, who was sentenced to 18 years for the murder, has failed to have his term reduced.
Robert Maltby, 21, survived but Ms Lancaster died in hospital 13 days after the attack in August 2007. Ms Lancaster died 13 days after the attack in Stubbylee Park last year.
Court of Appeal judges are due to give their judgment and reasons later. She was trying to protect her boyfriend Robert Maltby, who survived the attack.
The pair were set upon by five youths in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, because they were dressed as Goths, Preston Crown Court was told. Herbert and Harris repeatedly kicked and stamped on Ms Lancaster
Mr Maltby was kicked unconscious but Ms Lancaster was kicked and stamped on the head. At the Court of Appeal in London the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two other judges cut the minimum term to be served by Herbert to 15 years and six months.
Herbert and Harris kicked and stamped Ms Lancaster to death Three other youths involved with Herbert and Harris in the savage attack on Mr Maltby had their sentence appeals rejected by the three judges.
Harris, of Spring Terrance, Bacup, denied murder but was convicted and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 18 years. Lord Judge described the attack as "appalling crime".
Herbert, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup, admitted murder and was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years. Harris, Herbert, brothers Joseph and Danny Hulme, and Daniel Mallett had kicked art student Mr Maltby into unconsciousness in the park in August 2007.
Two brothers, Joseph Hulme, 18 and Danny 16, of Landgate, Whitworth, near Bacup, were ordered to serve a minimum of five years and ten months. All five teenagers were given indeterminate sentences for public protection after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the attack on Mr Maltby.
Daniel Mallett, 18, of Rockcliffe Drive, Bacup, is serving four years and four months. 'Feral thuggery'
The three youths had pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on Mr Maltby. The Hulme brothers, aged 16 and 18, of Landgate, Whitworth, near Bacup are each serving a minimum of five years and 10 months.
Lawyers for the gang have argued their sentences were too long taking into account their ages. Mallett, 18, of Rockcliffe Drive, Bacup, is serving four years and four months.
Speaking after the trial, Ms Lancaster's mother, Sylvia, said: "To choose to beat and stamp a young girl to death just because she looks different and show no remorse afterwards is just so sick. Sentencing the youths at their trial, Judge Anthony Russell QC had described the attacks as "feral thuggery".
"I feel nothing but contempt for them." The appeals against the sentences he imposed at the Crown Court had mainly centred on the ages of the teenagers.
The attack in August 2007 was described by trial judge Anthony Russell QC as "feral thuggery", adding that their behaviour "degrades humanity itself". Dismissing the appeals of four of them, Lord Judge said the appeal of Herbert was being allowed to a "very limited extent".