Rock fans Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were the victims of an unprovoked attack in Bacups Stubbylee Park in the early hours of August 11 2007.
According to reports in the Metro newspaper, as Sophie and Robert walked through the park, a gang of five boys (aged between 15-17) whom Lancaster and Maltby had earlier been talking with, suddenly turned into a 'pack of wild animals' and began kicking and stamping on Roberts head. They then began to attack Lancaster, as she tried to protect her head.
New evidence has now recently come to the attention of the jury working on the case, in the form of a 999 call, made by a hysterical teenager who witnessed the attack.
As the girl explains the situation, an unknown voice can be heard shouting "Oy, get the f*** off him now!" and another voice says "He's on the floor man, he's practically f***ing dead". The girl caller explains the injuries to the operator, and he tells her to stem the blood flow. When it doesn't appear to be working the girl says "It's all over their hands, all coming out of their eyes, all out their nose and everything. Please just help us quick. They're just laid there will blood all over their face, they can't even move, they just look like dummies."
Paramedics say that Sophie was beaten so badly, that they could not tell what sex she was. Sophie died 14 days later, aged just 20, when her family decided to turn off her life support machine, after being told by doctors that there was no chance of recovery. Maltby managed to make one last emotional visit to see Sophie before her parents made the decision.
Michael Shorrock QC said that, "the gang had turned on the young couple in the park in Lancaster simply because they were goths and dressed differently." Both Sophie and Robert's family, who say that the couple were often singled out because of their clothing and body piercings, share a similar view.
According to a Lancashire news report, two of the attackers are remanded in custody, the other three are on bail. Metro reveals that one boy aged 15, denies the murder, saying he took no part in it, however, The Times are reporting that a 16-year-old has admitted to taking part in the manslaughter of Sophie.
The case continues
