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Teen guilty of 'goth's' murder
27/03/2008 21:11 - (SA)
London - A 15-year-old British boy was convicted on Thursday of kicking and stamping to death a woman in a park because she and her art student boyfriend were wearing Goth-style black clothes.
Brendan Harris attacked Sophie Lancaster, 20, as she begged him and four other youths to stop beating her boyfriend.
A court in Preston, northern England, heard the assault was totally unprovoked and the two victims were singled out simply because they looked different to their attackers.
The victim died from serious head injuries two weeks after the attack in a park in Bacup, Lancashire, last August.
Her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, 21, was left in a coma but has almost recovered to full health.
Another teenager, Ryan Herbert, 16, pleaded guilty to the murder.
Harris had denied murder, admitting only that he had beaten up Maltby after consuming large amounts of cider, beer and peach liqueur.
Police chief Mick Gradwell said it was one of the most violent murders he had ever worked on. "It was a totally unnecessary and appalling set of circumstances.
"I do not think Herbert and Harris have recognised how violent the attack was," he said.
"They have just done it without thinking but they have seemed to have enjoyed it and carried on remorselessly kicking at two very defenceless people who were unable to protect themselves because of the level of violence inflicted upon them."
Gradwell was severely critical of Harris' parents, saying their attitude throughout the trial had been "appalling".
The victim's boyfriend said Lancaster was "my entire world".
"Everything I was doing outside being around Sophie was really just to make it so we could have a decent life together, and just when we have tried that hard, we have put in so much effort, and then some child comes along and decides to ruin it all for you, it is just not fair."
Harris will be sentenced next month.
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