Sunday, May 4, 2008

Sophie verdict - the aftermath

Big interview with Sophie's mum:
Mother of murdered Goth Sophie Lancaster: I'll make sure my ...
Mirror.co.uk, UK May 3rd

She was also on BBC according to a myspace bulletin:
"

"if any of you are up and about​ or would​ like to set your video​s to recor​d,​ Sylvi​a,​ Suzan​ne,​(​Sophi​e'​s frien​d)​ and I are on BBC'​s Sunda​y Life at 10 Am, it shoul​d be a good oppor​tunit​y for us to talk about​ the campa​ign etc

"It's good to get diver​se cover​age and this is an ethic​al and relig​ious progr​am that is this week talki​ng at lengt​h about​ what it's like to be "​diffe​rent"​ and getti​ng abuse​ for it

"will keep you poste​d on event​s

Kate"


What is particularly interesting is that US sources have virtually not mentioned the Sophie story despite blanket coverage in the UK. Once again contrasting with the goth bus saga coverage which was covered abroad.

Interesting article on the thugs background.

Feral' killer is former Whitworth High pupil
Rochdale Observer, UK - 2 May 2008

2/ 5/2008

ONE OF the two teenage thugs given long prison sentences this week for the murder of a student in a Bacup park is a former Whitworth High School pupil.

Fifteen-year-old Brendan Harris, who was ordered to be detained for a minimum of 18 years by a judge at Preston Crown Court for the brutal slaying of Sophie Lancaster, was a student at Whitworth until 2006 when he moved to Scotland.

Harris returned to the Rossendale area and attended Fearns Community Sports College in Stacksteads.

Convicted of murder along with Harris was Ryan Herbert, of Bacup, who was told he would serve a minimum of 16 years.

One of Harris’s classmates at Fearns was 16-year-old Danny Hulme, of Landgate, Shawforth, who, along with his brother Joseph, was sent to prison for a minimum of five years and 10 months for the grievous bodily harm of Robert Maltby, Miss Lancaster’s boyfriend.

Judge Anthony Russell described the attack on Mr Maltby as the worst case of grievous bodily harm he had encountered in 30 years.

It was while cradling the badly injured Mr Maltby in her arms that the thugs then turned on Miss Lancaster. She was kicked and stamped to death while pleading for them to stop beating her boyfriend.

The Hulmes, along with a third youth, Daniel Mallett, aged 17, of Bacup, carried out a brutal attack on Mr Maltby in Stubbylee Park simply because he was dressed as a goth.

The Judge, who lifted reporting restrictions allowing the Observer to identify the two Hulmes, said: "This was feral thuggery. It raises serious questions about the sort of society which exists in this country. This terrible case has shocked and outraged all who have heard about it.

"At least wild animals, when they hunt in packs, have a legitimate reason for doing so, to obtain food. You have none and your behaviour degrades humanity itself."

The court was told that the two Hulmes and Mallett played no part in the attack on Miss Lancaster. During the 45-minute sentencing Danny Hulme sat with his head bowed. He wiped tears from his eyes several times. His brother kept looking at the floor. Their mother fled the court in tears.

Paul Reid QC, for Joseph Hulme, said his client had been brought up to be responsible.

He said: "Mr and Mrs Hulme feel let down by their sons. Joseph cannot offer any reason why he became involved – perhaps peer influence.

"Young people get involved in dreadful incidents, getting swept on by what is going on around them."

Representing Danny Hulme, Anthony Cross QC said his client had never been in trouble before, adding: "He was an ordinary young boy coming from a home encouraging good behaviour. There had been no warning signs."


In Bacup youth workers look for more cash...

Service looking for more cash for young
Lancashire Telegraph, UK - 1 May 2008


Sophie's death has been linked with drink now skunk:
Hippie dream, modern nightmare
guardian.co.uk, UK
4 May 2008

And last week the mother of Sophie Lancaster, the 20-year-old goth murdered by two binge-drinking teenagers, claimed the rise of skunk was now one of the biggest causes of problems among young people. 'It's so much stronger now than normal cannabis and young people are smoking it from 9am and thinking it's OK,' said Sylvia Lancaster. 'I have worked with young people over a number of years and I believe that one of the biggest issues facing us is skunk.'



No comments: