Teenagers Get Life For Brutal Murder

TWO teenagers were jailed for life today for brutally murdering a young woman in a park because she was dressed as a Goth.

Sophie Lancaster, 20, was kicked and stamped to death as she begged the pair to stop beating her boyfriend in Bacup, Lancashire, last August.

Ryan Herbert, 16, of Rossendale Crescent, Bacup, who admitted murder, received a 16-year minimum term.

His accomplice Brendan Harris, 15, of Spring Terrace, Bacup, Lancashire, who was convicted after a trial last month, was given a minimum of 18 years.

Passing sentence Judge Anthony Russell QC said: "This was feral thuggery. It raises serious questions about the sort of society which exists in this country at the start of a new millennium which was heralded with such optimism".

Gap-year student Miss Lancaster cradled her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21, in her arms as she begged the two to stop beating him in Stubbylee Park last August.

Her plea was ignored as Harris delivered a flying kick to her head and Herbert volley-kicked her in the face "like a ball in flight".

'Appalling'

Sophie's mother, Sylvia, 52, along with Mr Maltby's mother, father and brother, and 15 other friends and relatives, some in Goth clothing, sat in the jury box and seats alongside it.

Following the verdict last month, Miss Lancaster's mother said society needed to reflect on what had happened and make changes to prevent similar deaths.

She said she was uncertain she could continue her job as a youth worker - ironically trying to prevent teenagers following a life of crime.

Detectives investigating the murder criticised the conduct of the defendants and their families throughout the criminal proceedings as "appalling".

Harris and his mother were said to have been "laughing and joking" when they were first interviewed about the assaults.

Both the teenage killers had been drinking heavily on the night of the attack.