(Before I start to discuss this murder, I would like to say that this murder affected me strongly, I live 33 minutes away from where the killings occurred. Sophie’s mother would come into my high school to spread awareness regarding hate crimes and bullying of any kind. I also attended the college she wanted to participate in before her death, this college also made it their mission to spread awareness regarding hate crimes).
(https://sophielancasterfoundation.com/)
Sophie Lancaster was born on the 26th of November, 1986. She attended Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar school and was planning on attending Accrington and Rossendale College. Her boyfriend at the time was called Robert Maltby, who was 21. Both Sophie and Robert were described as intelligent and sensitive kids; however, they had problems due to the way they looked.
Sylvia, Sophie’s mother accepted her just as she was, in an interview with the BBC Sylvia discussed sophie’s dress sense stating that they went to Affleck’s places (alternative store in Manchester) for her clothing. Sylvia explained the sort of names Sophie and Robert would be called when they walked in the streets, which clearly upset sophies mother.
Sylvia described Sophie as being funny and quick to comment on statements. Sophie and Robert were described as the perfect couple whose life and the relationship was cut short. The couple had a shared interest in art, music and harry potter.
While returning home on Friday/Saturday 11th of august, at 1/2am, Sophie and Robert bumped into a few teenagers and young adults. Some reports say different events, some note the individuals invited them to the skate park at Stubbylee park, whereas some state they had just been walking through. Either way, this was a horrible mistake.
Sophie and Robert fell victims to a large mob of teenagers and young adults, as the beating and abuse got worse, Sophie attempted to shield Robert. But this just turned the abuse onto Sophie, who according to reports, was stood on and kicked until unrecognisable. A call to the emergency services was made, by a witness. This witness was apparently 14 at the time of the call.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfGkM1z0sio) -999 call to services.
When paramedics arrived, it was noted the attacks where so brutal gender could not be determined straight away. Both Sophie and Robert were hospitalised as a result of the attack, Robert was in a coma and had internal bleeding. Sophie was in a deep coma, was placed on life support eventually got moved to Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, then to a neurology unit.
Robert gradually recovered but had lost memory of the time leading up to, and during, the attack. Tracy Maltby, Roberts mother, was called into the hospital that night to see her son in a coma and on a ventilator. Robert had footprints all over his body and face, this was shocked, everyone.
Police said that at least 10-15 individuals where involved in one way or another that night, the police identified the gothic dress of the couple as a possible motivation for the attack. This type of attack Is know known as a hate crime and was less common at the time of the attack, as well as having no legislation behind the kind of attack.
At the scene of the crime (Stubbylee park), a dreadlock was found. This belonged to Sophie and had been ripped off during the altercation.
A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were remanded in custody, while two 15-year-olds and a 17-year-old were released on bail. The original charge was “grievous bodily harm” however, this changed
when sophies condition worsened, the hospital staff determined that she would never regain consciousness. On the 24th of August 2007, her life support was terminated. All in all, 5 boys were charged with murder in October of 2007, no more arrests occurred.
Ryan Herbert and Brendan Harris, both from Bacup, were jailed for life for her murder, and for causing grievous bodily harm to Robert. Three others: Joseph and Danny Hulme and Daniel Mallett were also jailed for 4 or more years for attacking Robert.
Brendan Harris – Minimum sentence was/is 18 years.
Ryan Herbert – Minimum sentence was/is 16 years and 3 months.
After sophies death, many tributes were made, the park where the attack occurred was covered with floral tributes. As well as songs being dedicated to Sophie as well as Robert. Many media tributes to the death have been made. On the 26th of November 2009, (Sophies Birthdate), a 4-minute animation named Dark Angel. On the 18th of June 2017, BBC Three released a film based on the events surrounding Lancaster’s death, Murdered for Being Different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMstxhSz1Do – Dark Angel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ4i-ADMvYA – murdered for being different.
Sylvia made it her mission to have crimes targeted at specific dress or appearance seen as a hate crime. In April 2013, the Greater Manchester Police announced they would officially begin to record offences committed against goths and other alternative groups as hate crimes.
In 2014, Sylvia received an OBE for her work tackling hate crimes. She said at the time- Sophie would be “proud”.
As of 2020, Ryan Herbert’s sentence has been cut slightly, the decision means Herbert will now be eligible to apply for parole in February 2022. Apparently, Ryan is someone who has a profound interest in his own education and the education of others. Brendan Harris has not been overly mentioned, which may mean he hasn’t made any “progress”. In 2013, Brendan had beaten up a nurse at psychiatric unit. This means that
As of 2020, it has been 12 years since the murder of Sophie Lancaster, hate crimes still continue and devastate lives up and down the country. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation is still continuing to help people and accept donations to help people (https://sophielancasterfoundation.com/).
Solved Crimes. 