Five in court over girl's murder

[madhatter]

I've just been chatting to a friend and this got mentioned,so the whole country is discussig this, I was shocked and sickened by it and my sympathy goes out to all concerned.

From rossendale free press...
FIVE youths charged with murdering park attack victim Sophie Lancaster have appeared at Burnley Magistrates' Court.

Two 15-year-olds from Bacup have been remanded in custody while bail was granted for the other three defendants, two boys aged 15 and 16 from Shawforth and a 17-year-old boy from Bacup.

They had initially been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent after 20-year-old Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, were badly beaten up in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, in the early hours of 11 August.

But the charges were reviewed by the police and Crown Prosecution Service following Sophie’s death at Hope Hospital, Salford, on 24 August.

All five were charged with murder on Thursday.

Former Haslingden High School pupil Sophie, of King Street, Bacup, and Robert, known as Rob, were both left in comas with serious head and facial injuries following the alleged attack at the skate park.

Rob is now back home in Bacup recovering from his injuries. The five defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are all due before Burnley Youth Court on 18 October when the case will be committed to Preston Crown Court.

First published by the Rossendale Free Pres

[madhatter]

Was on news at ten tonight, they played the 999 call begging for an ambulance.

One a 16yr old has been found guilty, a 15 yr old biy is pleading not guilty to killing Sophie Lancaster in Bacup park, Rossendale on August 11th last year.
Three other boys, two aged 17 and one aged 16, have also admitted GBH.

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A `GOTH' girl was beaten to death in a 'sustained and vicious' unprovoked attack because she looked and dressed differently, a murder trial jury was told today.

Five boys `acting like a pack of wild animals' first launched a `savage and merciless' attack on Sophie Lancaster's boyfriend Robert Maltby, Preston Crown Court was told.

Michael Shorrock QC, prosecuting, said kicks 'rained in to his head and body' as he lay on the floor.

His head was then jumped and stamped on until he fell unconscious, the jury was told.

Two of the gang - aged 16 and 15 - then 'turned their attention' to Sophie, 20, who at the time was on her knees cradling Robert's head in her lap.

She was calling for help and begging the two to leave him alone, the jury heard.

The 15-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to Sophie's murder but the jury was told that he had admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm on Robert.

The 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to Sophie's murder and grievous bodily harm on Robert.

Three other boys, two aged 17 and one aged 16, have also admitted GBH, the jury was told.

All five are from Bacup, near Rossendale, in Lancashire, and cannot be named for legal reasons.

www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/s/1040525_boy_15_denies_goth_murder

www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/s/1040156_boy_16_guilty_of_park_murder