The success of the petition has led to a plan for a debate in Parliament:
Murder may lead to law change April 4th
"Now Rossendale MP Janet Anderson and Haslingden MP Greg Pope are set to request an adjournment debate in the House of Commons to call for the widening of the law to include such an attack under the definition of a hate crime as soon as possible.
Their debate will have to be responded to by the appropriate government minister, but they are prohibited from applying for the debate until sentencing has taken place later this month. They will also be putting forward an Early Day Motion calling on the government to give the matter 'urgent consideration'."
Please write to your MP about this issue and ask them to back the call for a debate after sentencing in the Sophie case on April 28th.
http://www.writetothem.com/
Remember you can make a difference. Let me know if you get a response.
The Rossendale Free Press delivered this news in a contination of its excellent coverage in a special pull out section - THE tragic story of Sophie Lancaster, the 20-year-old girl killed after being attacked in a Bacup park, gained national headlines. Follow the full story in our special section" which can be found online here:
Friday, April 4, 2008
Important - Debate in Parliament due to Sophie
Sophie Lancaster
Meanwhile the very popular brand Alchemy worn by many alternative people has added its voice to those denouncing the crime:
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sophie - More News
Long interview with Sophie's mother:
Mother of murdered Sophie: 'After looking into the thugs' eyes, I ...
Daily Mail,
Goth girl kicked to death: Grief stricken mum's sadness
Sunday People, UK
Columnist on Sophie:
We indulge yobs - and murdered Sophie Lancaster pays the price
Times Online, 29 Mar 2008
Interesting article on Bacup:
Sophie's murder prompts violence fall
Lancashire Evening Telegraph, UK -
Police in Bacup have dealt with just one incident of violence involving alcohol-fuelled teens since 20-year-old Sophie was murdered last August.
The Sun, UK -
By BEN ASHFORD
THE mums of two feral yobs who murdered Goth student Sophie Lancaster were in hiding last night.
Cops slammed the “appalling” parenting of Brendan Harris, 15, and Ryan Herbert, 16, who stamped on Sophie, 20, because of her fashion taste.
When The Sun confronted both women, they refused to talk.
Herbert’s mum Christine, 49, peered through her window but wouldn’t come to the door of her smart semi in Bacup, Lancs.
Harris’s mum Martine McGuinn — who had laughed as cops quizzed her son — ran into her terraced home and stayed holed up all day.
Harris was convicted on Thursday of Sophie’s murder and GBH on her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 20.
Herbert had admitted murder. They will be sentenced in April.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sophie - More reports
The Verdict coincided with a detailed report on Teen drinking.
Toll of teenage drinking revealed
Teenagers are drinking an average of 44 bottles of wine or 177 pints of beer a year each, a study suggests.Almost 10,000 15-to-16-year-olds in the North West of England were questioned as part of the study into underage drinking and violence.
The report, produced by Liverpool John Moores University, found as many as 40% of teenagers in poor areas binge drink.
Recent high-profile murders in the region were carried out by teenagers who had been drinking heavily.
On Thursday, Brendan Harris, 15, was convicted of murdering 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster in a Lancashire park after drinking two litres of cider, peach schnapps and lager.
For Sophie's sake, Can It
Mirror.co.uk,
One thing is certain drink played a role in the crime. It fuelled the development of an underlying hostility into extreme violence.
Interesting to note while the "chav" word is absent from most coverage while it is ominpresent in internet discussions. In Glasgow however the Ned word is used more readily.
Drunken neds killed woman because she was a goth
Glasgow Daily Record,
We must remmber of course is that while some of the "chav" teenagers attacked others in the exactly the same group called the emergency services and tried to save Sophie's life. It is not "chavs" as a whole who are to blame but a violent minority within that group. Hating all "chavs" shows a level of intolerance which is no better than he hate they show.
One of the more interesting online discussions:
Drowned in Sound - Features - The Weekly DiScussion: wearing your ...
Remembering Sophie Lancaster - The Campaign
Sophie - The Verdict - Guilty
Loads of coverage to examine it was reported in depth in all major papers and news channels here so here are the high points:
Major articles include:
The haunting last picture of the battered face of Sophie Lancaster ...
Daily Mail,
Photo of Sophie in hospital is front page on the Sun today.
Battered ... Sophie Lancaster lies in a coma after being beaten by ...
The Sun,
Teenager guilty of goth murder
The Independent
Police slam defendants' parents
Lancashire Evening Telegraph,
Very sad interview with Robert:
Sophie's boyfriend: I wish gang had killed me instead
Lancashire Evening Telegraph,
Anger of park attack survivor
BBC News,
Killer posed with baseball bat
Manchester Evening News,
Interview with Sophie's mum.
Sophie's mum begs for 'respect'
Manchester Evening News,
A few articles focus on the goth connection:
Sophie's brutal murder unites Goths against 'hate crime'
24dash, UK
This important BBC interview with Ade Varney focuses in the hate crimes petition which has gained over 1000 signatures in the last day.
The darker side of life as a Goth
BBC News
The Verdict of the trial has gone onto international news wires like Reuters and has been reported in New Zealand on TV, and in Austria with more to come.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Sophie Trial latest
No internet access for the past few days hence lack of updates. Sophie case continues to get lots of coverage with local press providing the most detail:
BBC NEWS | England | Lancashire | Court witness reveals killer's id
Tearful mum flees murder trial
The Sun, UK 17th March
Lancashire Evening Telegraph, UK -
By Charlotte Bradshaw A TEENAGER told the jury he saw the defendant kicking Sophie Lancaster in the head during the skate park attack that led to her death.
Lancashire Evening Telegraph, UK -
Sophie Lancaster suffered 17 different injuries during the attack in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, including a head wound where her scalp was split open.
Lancashire Evening Telegraph, UK -
By Charlotte Bradshaw A TEENAGE witness has told how he stemmed the flow of blood from Sophie Lancaster's face. The boy, 16, told Preston Crown Court that ...
Lancashire Evening Telegraph, UK -
By Charlotte Bradshaw A TEARFUL 15-year-old girl has told of the night Sophie Lancaster and Robert Maltby were attacked.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Sophie Lancaster - Most involved admit guilt
BBC News
A 16-year-old boy has admitted kicking a woman to death in a Lancashire park.
Sophie Lancaster, 20, and boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, were in Stubby Lee Park in Bacup, Lancashire, when they were attacked on 11 August 2007.
At Preston Crown Court a youth, who cannot legally be named, admitted murder, and attacking Mr Maltby.
A 15-year-old youth is due to stand trial for the murder - he denies the charge but admits causing grevious bodily harm with intent.
Murder charges against three other youths - two aged 17 and one aged 16 - were withdrawn.
None of the youths can be named because of their age.
Remanded in custody
The three youths who had the murder charge withdrawn were remanded in custody by Judge Anthony Russell QC, Recorder of Preston, after admitting GBH.
They will be sentenced after the conclusion of the murder trial of the 15-year-old defendant.
A jury is due to be sworn in and a trial, scheduled to last three weeks, is expected to start on Wednesday. Miss Lancaster died two weeks after the incident. She was in a coma after suffering head injuries and never regained consciousness.
Mr Maltby, an art student, also fell into a coma, but recovered and has since left hospital.
The beginning of the trial saw a renewed interest with articles, in The Times, Scotsman, Guardian, Telegraph, Mirror, Mail, Metro, The Sun, BBC, Sky News and ITN plus other sources. However none of articles picked up on the wider implications of the crime many many not mentioning the role of prejudice in the attack.
Only the Lancashire Evening Telegraph article below mentioned the S.O.P.H.I.E. campaign. Why?? Some online articles do not even mention the fact that both people attacked were goths though the BBC did in their broadcast.
Will the media match the amount of time it spent on the case of goth Bus prejudice with the same amount on this case of murder and GBH? In the next few weeks we will see.
"Sophie's death prompted an out-pouring of grief from friends and family in East Lancashire.
Her mother Sylvia, from Bacup, has established SOPHIE (Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere) to call for greater under-standing for marginalised sections of society."Sophie Lancaster murder trial due to startThis Is Lancashire, UK -
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom -
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, admitted the murder of Sophie Lancaster and the attack on her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21. ...
The Sun proclaimed Goth Killer Guilty.
Boy, 16, pleads guilty to beating to death female college student ...
Daily Mail - Sophie Lancaster: a 16-year-old pleaded guilty today to her murder. Miss Lancaster and Mr Maltby were beaten up in a vicious assault in Stubbylee Park, .
Lad guilty of Goth's kill horror
Mirror.co.uk, UK -
A schoolboy faces an unlimited jail sentence after admitting murdering a Goth student and assaulting her boyfriend. The 16-year-old pleaded guilty yesterday ...,
Monday, February 25, 2008
Six-week murder trial for those accused of killing Sophie Lancaster - Rossendale Free Press
The Pre trial hearing was held looks like the actual trial will be a long one.
Six-week murder trial - News - Rossendale Free Press
22/ 2/2008
FIVE youths accused of murdering 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster, from Bacup, face a six-week trial next month.
The teenagers, who appeared for a pre-trial review at Preston Crown Court today (Friday), are also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Miss Lancaster’s boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21, also from Bacup.
But they pleaded not guilty to both offences, which they are alleged to have carried out in an attack in Stubbylee Park last August, at a previous court appearance in December.
The trial, which is due to start on Monday 10 March, had been expected to last four weeks, but this has now been extended by a fortnight due to the large number of witnesses and evidence.
The court heard there would be 50 witnesses, many of whom would give their evidence via a video link due to their age.
Judge Anthony Russell QC also ruled that legal representatives in the case would not have to wear their gowns and wigs due to the age of the witnesses involved.
He said arrangements would be made to accommodate the Lancaster family away from the defendants’ families during the trial; they sat in the press gallery during today’s hearing. The defendants are all aged between 15 and 17.
Two were remanded in custody, one of whom will appear in court again next Friday for a review of enquiries into his health. The other three were released on bail.
There is a write up of the Sophie concert in Preston earlier this month here:
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Observer Music Monthly "Undead" on goths - Roundup of recent coverage
Alterophobia was noted in a sympathetic article "Undead" (even if it is one with a cheesy title) in The Observer Music Monthly which is good news. [Online copy here.] Following a visit to that fine night DJ De'Ath's Black Veil in Leeds the article is full of pictures and some text and includes an interview with the infamous Pete Scathe. Why they talked to Bizarre magazine about goth I am not sure but they are in there too. It does mention the goth bus couple saga of course and Sophie Lancaster briefly at the end. [Note the trial of those accused of attacking Sophie and Rob will be in Preston not Burnley as the Observer mentions.] If reading that article brought you here read on.
If you do not know about the tragic events surrounding the death of Sophie Lancaster then check out here Sophie Lancaster Wikipedia entry. Sophie Lancaster's tribute bench is now in place in Whitby (see A tribute to Sophie - Whitby Today) thanks to fundraising from the entire goth community. The SOPHIE - ["Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred (and) Intolerance Everywhere"] fund's cause of fighting against all forms of intolerance goes on as her family and friends are backing an ongoing series of events which have happened all over the country. The next one is in Lancaster at Dark Side of the Lune on . Sophie Lancaster Tribute Night, Saturday 15th March, The
But the point is the problem still goes on and it is not an isolated incident. The latest casualty from an attack last weeked is a Goth attacked in Belfast. He is still in a bad way TEENAGER STILL CRITICAL AFTER BRIDGE FALL.
As the Observer article said that Sophie's death "received just a fraction of the coverage garnered by the dog-led goths tells you something about society." This is something highlighted here in our examination of the media attention across the world paid to the the Goth Bus discrimination saga. This prejudice is in fact no joke - goths living in the same town as that couple have been literally chased off the streets as more serious local reporting reveals: Goth Bus Couple - The local perspective. Why was no similar media attention paid to the story of the
These questions need answering.
Think about signing the petition against subcultural hate crime if you have not already now other 2500 signatures including some MEP/MPs. Epetition at Downing Street
Write to your MP ask them what is being done about this problem.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sophies Festival Of Music (from Lancashire Telegraph)
A two festival dedicated to Sophie to be held in Preston:
Sophies Festival Of Music (from Lancashire Telegraph)
6:48pm Monday 21st January 2008
A TWO-day music event is taking place in aid of the Sophie Lancaster memorial fund.
SOPHIE - Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere - was set up after the brutal attack on Sophie, from Rawtenstall, at Stubbylee Park, Bacup.
Sophie's friend, Anastasia Roe, 23, has arranged the music event on February 1 and 2 at The Venue on Lloyd Walk, Preston.
Anastasia said: "The first night will be a goth night and the second will feature all kinds of different music.
"Sophie was a brilliant girl. When I heard the news I was devastated."
The venue holds a 750 capacity and tickets are available on the door for £3. Friday runs from 8pm to 2am. Saturday is 3pm to 1am.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Bands Take To The Stage For Sophie Lancaster Fund (from The Bolton News)
Bands Take To The Stage For Sophie Lancaster Fund (from The Bolton News)
12th December 2007
THEY might seem more likely to scare small children, but four of Bolton's finest hard rock and metal bands are coming together to raise money for charity.
Princess Die, Cupids Revolver, Uncle Rotter and Total Victory will all play a gig at the Dog and Partridge on December 22, to raise money for the Sophie Lancaster fund.
Sophie was killed on August 24 this year while walking home through Stubby Lee Park in Bacup with her boyfriend, Robert Maltby. Police believe that the couple were attacked because they were wearing "goth" clothing.
The fund was set up by her friends and family to "provide an appropriate memorial; a lasting legacy to raise awareness of the injustice perpetrated against Sophie Lancaster and to work towards a more tolerant, less violent society."
Admission to the event is free, although there will be several buckets for donations.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Campaigning developments
The Epetition at Downing Street website against Subcultural Hate Crime has shot through the 2000 mark and is now on 2105. This increase seems likely to have been caused by the spurt of interest following Sophie's Funeral plus the recent concert. The youtube video of her funeral has now had almost 11,000 views over 2 weeks and can be found all over the net.
Another development is a new campaigning organisation the Gothic Liberation Front aiming to help goths facing discrimination and attack has started in the USA. They too have been inspired by the the death of Sophie. They are setting up branches all over the place they have one in the UK, France and in Germany and hopefully they will prove a useful support for goths and help them out in times of trouble. They seem to be taking a more militant approach to the whole thing, but it looks like their heart is in the right place. Since all they are suggesting is self defence which is perfectly legal that is fair enough. The more organizations addressing this problem the better. Check them out here.
I think part of their stance may have something to with the aftermath of the breakdown of Goth Help Us mentioned earlier - Farewell Goth Help Us.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sophie's Funeral
Sophie's boyfriend Rob Maltby
Final tribute to murdered Goth
Manchester Evening News12/11/2007
HUNDREDS of mourners gathered to pay their respects at the funeral of a 20-year-old woman who was kicked to death in a park. Sophie Lancaster, of Bacup, suffered severe head and facial injuries during the brutal assault in August.
Miss Lancaster and her boyfriend, Rob Maltby, 21, who survived the attack, had been targeted in the past for being dressed as Goths. Her family have since launched a campaign to highlight the hostility which Goths face.
The Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere (Sophie) memorial fund aims to raise money to teach young people about alternative cultures and to respect everyone.
Their campaign, run via the myspace website, has attracted wide support from the online Goth community and many are expected to travel from around Britain to the service...
FOND FAREWELL FOR MURDERED WOMAN Express, UK November 13th
The humanist funeral held in Whitworth this morning, celebrated the life of the young woman who was brutally kicked to death as she walked through a park with her boyfriend.
Miss Lancaster, who was from Bacup in Lancashire, slipped into a coma and died in hospital 13 days after suffering fatal injuries to her head and face.
Her partner, 21-year-old Rob Maltby, also fell into a coma but survived the horrific attack. He suffered bleeding on the brain and is still recovering from his injuries.
Her white coffin was covered in messages from friends. One read: “I would love to hug you right now – see you in my thoughts and dreams.”... read more
Sophie's final goodbye
By Camilla Sutcliffe
Lancashire Evening Telegraph
MOURNERS wrote goodbye messages on the coffin of alleged murder victim Sophie Lancaster as condolences from around the world were shown on a projector screen.
Hundreds of people from across the country gathered at The Riverside Centre, Whitworth, for the humanist funeral ceremony, which celebrated diversity and difference.
Sophie, 20, died in August after she and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were involved in an incident in Stubbylee Park, Bacup. Police said the Bacup couple were attacked because of the way they looked.
advertisement
Portraits of former Haslingden High School pupil painted by Robert, 21, who survived the attack, decorated the funeral hall.
After the ceremony guests were invited to write messages to Sophie in black marker pen on her white coffin as music by the Beatles, Jeff Buckley and Marilyn Manson was played.
Poems by Christina Rossetti, Brian Patten and one written for Sophie by Robert, were read out during the ceremony.
Mourners then walked in procession led by a lone piper, to Whitworth Cemetary where poetry by Keats and Shelley was read before the burial.
At the service, officiator Sue Davies said that Sophie's "painful, cruel and tragic" death had shocked everyone, but that she would not want to be defined by the way she died. She said the funeral was very personal but,most importantly, welcoming, safe and inclusive for everyone.
She said: "Sophie Lancaster was an original - a remarkable and true individual. An exciting, fierce woman of high intelligence and understanding.
"Sophie's death is a profound tragedy of humanity. It is the tragedy of dehumanisation. It is the tragedy which unfortunately, despite all efforts, recurs again and again and is still with us today.
"With actions which are so atrocious, so incomprehensible that we are left struggling to make sense of the insensible. But we must never allow violence to be the final word."
She added that Sophie's three-year relationship with Robert was one which enriched them both.
After the ceremony friends said that it had done justice to Sophie's life. Close friend Joe Greenwood, 18, of Haslingden, said: "It was a beautiful service and it was wonderful to see so many people here to celebrate her life."
Paul Mannion, 23, of Hall Carr, Rawtenstall, added: "She was always happy, always laughing and always making other people laugh and see what life is really like. There are no ways to say what a shame it is to lose such a person."
Flowers were laid on her coffin by all mourners and donations have been made to the family's charity campaign SOPHIE (Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere). Further donations can be made through the campaign website at www.myspace.com/inmemoryofsophie Five youths will appear in Preston Crown Court on March 10 charged with Sophie's murder.
[Another article no new details but appears in a popular and widely distributed free paper Metro.]
Tributes to goth who was brutally killed
Metro, UK -
Monday, October 29, 2007
Unity Concert Organised In Memory Of Sophie (from Lancashire Telegraph)
Unity Concert Organised In Memory Of Sophie (from Lancashire Telegraph): "A UNITY concert is taking place in Blackburn next month in memory of tragic Rossendale girl Sophie Lancaster. Promoters of the one-day music festival at the Sir Charles Napier pub, in Limbrick, didn't even know Sophie, who died after being attacked in Stubylee Park, Bacup, in August. But young web entrepreneur Gemma Walker has been inspired to take positive action, amid calls for greater understanding for marginalised young people across East Lancashire. advertisement Police believe the former Haslingden High School Sophie, who was attacked along with her boyfriend Robert Maltby, was targeted because of their alternative style of clothing."
Friday, October 26, 2007
In Memory of Sophie Lancaster
In Memory of Sophie Lancaster
New Sophie Lancaster Website for the memorial fund.
http://inmemoryofsophie.com/
seems to be down at the moment feb 2008
Thursday, October 25, 2007
You have to start somewhere
Sophie's Mother in new appeal in the Lancashire Telegraph:
Mrs Lancaster said: "The campaign is about trying to get away from blaming people and getting the conversation going between different groups of young people and adults too.
"I want people to think twice about labelling people because of the way they dress or the music they listen to - adults are just as guilty of that as young people and it does create conflict. We have a long way to go but we have managed a lot already.
I was amazed at the response in support of the teenagers in Blackburn, agreeing that they are just ordinary people. And I was delighted with how seriously the police and councillors in Burnley have taken the attacks there. I know some people might think this campaign is just idealism, but you have to start somewhere. Sophie would never have wanted me to be sitting at home grieving and not doing anything because that's not what I am and it's not what she was. She was a lovely, kind, caring girl. What happened to her was senseless but I have got to make sense of it by doing as much as I can to stop it happening again."
