Heartland

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:00**

I'm not sure if anyone here is aware of this as it only seems to have hit the local papers, but just incase....

Five charged over skate park attack
By Samrana Hussain

FIVE teenagers have been charged with assault after a couple were beaten unconscious in a skate park in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 21-year-old man and his 20 year-old girlfriend, found in the skate park, in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, were so badly beaten police had difficulty establishing their sex.

Police said the couple may have been attacked around 1am on Saturday because they wore 'gothic clothing'.

Five youths, aged 15 to 17 from the Rossendale Valley, have been charged with assault and are due to appear at Burnley Magistrates today.

The couple, who remain unconscious in specialist care units in hospitals in Manchester, were left with with serious head injuries and swollen faces.

Their condition is said to be serious but stable.

Detective Inspector Dean Holden said: "We have charged five males aged 15-17 with section 18 assault and they will be appearing at Burnley Magistrates today."

http://www.lancashireeveningtelegra...rk _attack.php

Now for the really Bad News...

Published: 23rd August 2007
Park attack victim loses fight for life

SOPHIE Lancaster

THE 20-year-old victim of a horrific 'mob attack' in Bacup has lost her fight for life.

Former Haslingden High School pupil Sophie Lancaster suffered horrific head and facial injuries when she and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were assaulted in Stubbylee Park in the early hours of 11 August, leaving them both in comas.

Devastated family were told earlier in the week that she would not recover and went to say their last goodbyes at her bedside in Hope Hospital, Salford.

And today (Friday) the heartbreaking decision was made to turn off Sophie's life support machine; she died at 11.30am.

Rob's uncle and close friend of the couple Nigel Lancashire said: 'We are all just horrified. Both families are absolutely devastated.

'You don't think it can happen to someone you know; these things happen to someone else. All her friends managed to get to see her and everyone who mattered got to say their goodbyes.'

Robert, known as Rob, was briefly allowed out of Rochdale Infirmary on Wednesday to pay his girlfriend an emotional last visit. A former student at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar, he also suffered severe head and facial injuries, but his condition has improved.

Mr Lancashire described his nephew as very 'disorientated and confused'.

He said Rob, 21, had been asking about Sophie all the time and when he saw her to say goodbye it was 'heartbreaking'.

The couple, both of Bacup, were allegedly assaulted by a group of people at the skate park at around 1.20am after spending the evening at a friend's house

Five youths, three aged 15 and two aged 17, have been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the assault on Sophie and Robert; the police and Crown Prosecution Service are now reviewing those charges.

Detective Inspector Dean Holden, who described the incident as a 'mob attack' is leading the investigation.

He said: 'It is tragic that this young woman has now died. Our thoughts are obviously with her family. Anyone who saw the attack or has any information should contact the police.'

Several readers voiced their horror over what happened after reading last week's Free Press article; one claimed footage of the alleged attack had been on home video website YouTube.

A spokesman for site owners Google UK said: 'A video of this nature would be immediately removed.'

DI Holden said he was aware of the claims about YouTube but the police had not found anything. Anyone who witnessed anything is asked to contact Rawtenstall CID on 237443, the control room on 01282 4721360 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

For further infromation goto:

Here

and

Here

and

Here

Thanks in advance.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:09**

FFS.

What is the world coming to?

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:13**

Holy f*ck.

Police said the couple may have been attacked around 1am on Saturday because they wore 'gothic clothing'.

F*cking chav scum did it, I'll bet dollars to donuts.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:14**

markfiend wrote:Holy f*ck.
Police said the couple may have been attacked around 1am on Saturday because they wore 'gothic clothing'.
F*cking chav scum did it, I'll bet dollars to donuts.

EXactly my thoughts but I didn't want to sound too judgemental...but I'm sure you're right.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:17**

Utterly disgusting. It's incidents like this that make me think that certain types of people should be just locked up on general principle.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:51**

Hom_Corleone wrote:FFS.
What is the world coming to?

Coming to?

Always has been there because people or what they call themselves are involved.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 14:54**

When I say such things as "kill 'em all" and "hang 'em high", I'm just joking ! But to actually do it !?
What in the name of the great Cthulhu can give you the urge to beat someone to death just because you don't like the way he/she looks ?

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:05**

It's had such minimal press it makes you wonder what you have to do for the media to take any notice. Maybe if Sophie had been a young black man in a south London gang shot by a rival drugs gang we'd have seen it on the front page.

She was a lovely looking young lady.

Look at that young face. They stomped on her head and beat her and her boyfriend so badly that the emergency services couldn't tell which one was male and which female.

It's time for the powers that be to change the whole adult / child prosecution law. It seems like a high percentage of violent crime is being carried out by people who can't be tried as an adult. Therefore geting a hugely reduced punishment. There's something seriously wrong in this country and it desperately needs sorting out.
Whatever happened to "serve and protect the general public".

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:09**

Badlander wrote:
When I say such things as "kill 'em all" and "hang 'em high", I'm just joking ! But to actually do it !?
What in the name of the great Cthulhu can give you the urge to beat someone to death just because you don't like the way he/she looks ?

But like the rest of us "Others", we are to be feared and loathed because we refuse to be part of the herd.

We're also a damnsight more intelligent too.

I've been on the receiving end of a good kicking and part of a pub brawl (stupid trendies..old name for chavs...didn't realise that the pub in question was run by the local chapter of The Satan's Slaves, guess what happened next?) for having the audacity to dress, and think, differently.

This is the first time I've heard of someone having been killed as a result and I'm very, very angry. But, strangely, not that surprised.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:10**

I'm not going to make any knee-jerk posts about being pro-gun or wanting hanging brought back....

I hope they get raped in prison however- by a gay Goth with an exceptionally large xxxx.

Scum like that make me sick...

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:18**

biggy wrote:It's had such minimal press it makes you wonder what you have to do for the media to take any notice. Maybe if Sophie had been a young black man in a south London gang shot by a rival drugs gang we'd have seen it on the front page.

She was a lovely looking young lady.

Look at that young face. They stomped on her head and beat her and her boyfriend so badly that the emergency services couldn't tell which one was male and which female.

It's time for the powers that be to change the whole adult / child prosecution law. It seems like a high percentage of violent crime is being carried out by people who can't be tried as an adult. Therefore geting a hugely reduced punishment. There's something seriously wrong in this country and it desperately needs sorting out.
Whatever happened to "serve and protect the general public".

They weren't an 11-year-old Everton fan shot outside a pub by teenagers.

They were goths and goths aren't a part of "normal" society and, therefore, don't count.

And people wonder why I despise "normal" society.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:30**

what if it was mob of Gothics beat up one and murder another Chav?

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:38**

What would the goffix do? Cry on them?

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:38**

James Blast wrote:what if it was mob of Gothics beat up one and murder another Chav?

It would be just as senseless and I'd expect the full retribution of the law.

Except, of course, I'd also expect the media to actually report that in a big way. Particularly the tabloids, considering we're a threat to "normal" society.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:38**

James Blast wrote:what if it was mob of Gothics beat up one and murder another Chav?

I despise the term 'chav'- I live on a council estate and I wear footie tops, does that make me 'chav working class scum'???

An eye for an eye and we all go blind James

I'd certainly 'have words' with those involved in this attack however

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:43**

Well that would be equally f**ked up... but I suspect it's about 1000 times more likely to happen this way round

The same people would beat up an old lady, someone who was a different race. I wouldn't be at all surprised if those who define themselves as goffix were less likely to commit a violent crime than average...

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:45**

markfiend wrote:What would they do? Cry on him?

Nah. it'd be something more like this:

But with a lot of crushed velet.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:47**

certainly it's an unlikely scenario, I just wondered what reaction it would stir up

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:52**

James Blast wrote:certainly it's an unlikely scenario, I just wondered what reaction it would stir up

They would blame Marilyn Manson- as always

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 15:53**

boudicca wrote:I wouldn't be at all surprised if those who define themselves as goffix were less likely to commit a violent crime than average...

Quite right, back when I was living in the Northeast, the 2 clubs I frequented, Blazes, in Middlesborough, and The Gemini, in Hartlepool, the bouncers enjoyed the "alternative" nights as there was never any trouble. Except from random trendies who arrived with the specific purpose of causing trouble.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 16:03**

James Blast wrote:certainly it's an unlikely scenario, I just wondered what reaction it would stir up

Well, there was a case in Germany, wasn't there - a goth couple committed a murder I think. And the reaction was utterly predictable... I find it quite offensive as it actually belittles the crime if the media blames it on "goth". Nothing is learnt about those genuinely disturbed people and how such things might be avoided in future, and a thousand people who just happen to like the same bands are tarred with the same brush.
Human beings will go for the easy answer and the scapegoat over having to bother working out genuine causes and solutions, every f**king time.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 16:13**

boudicca wrote: Well, there was a case in Germany, wasn't there - a goth couple committed a murder I think. And the reaction was utterly predictable... I find it quite offensive as it actually belittles the crime if the media blames it on "goth". Nothing is learnt about those genuinely disturbed people and how such things might be avoided in future, and a thousand people who just happen to like the same bands are tarred with the same brush.
Human beings will go for the easy answer and the scapegoat over having to bother working out genuine causes and solutions, every f**king time.

And one in Italy too, IIRC, involving the murder of 2 nuns by a couple of goth girls. For which Marilyn Manson got the blame.

It's that herd mentality kicking in: "We can't possibly be to blame, because We are normal, well adjusted people and you're not."

It would also involve a lot of self-examination and realising that "normal" society, with it's extreme pressure on conformity, has an overwhleming tendancy to f**k people up.

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 16:46**

biggy wrote:It's had such minimal press it makes you wonder what you have to do for the media to take any notice. Maybe if Sophie had been a young black man in a south London gang shot by a rival drugs gang we'd have seen it on the front page.

She was a lovely looking young lady.

Look at that young face. They stomped on her head and beat her and her boyfriend so badly that the emergency services couldn't tell which one was male and which female.

It's time for the powers that be to change the whole adult / child prosecution law. It seems like a high percentage of violent crime is being carried out by people who can't be tried as an adult. Therefore geting a hugely reduced punishment. There's something seriously wrong in this country and it desperately needs sorting out.
Whatever happened to "serve and protect the general public".

Not trying to sound like Danbert here Biggy....but....there is no deterrent now, pound to a pinch of shit when they're found they'll victims of something or another, poor upbringing/single parent/poor housing or the like, any of which are no excuse for this kind of crime, they'll go to court with a smart arsed Lawyer, plead the reasons above, get a Five year sentence and be out drinking alcho pops in the park with their mates in Two years, it's happened before

What signal will this send to others of their ilk?..........free for all!!!
I don't have the answers, but for fuck sake!!!, what's it going to take before the Politicians get up off their erses & earn their wages

Too many excuses are being made for these scum

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 17:00**

"Cut their goolies off".

Posted: **28 Aug 2007, 17:24**

The two probably were easy looking targets. A safe kill for a coward mob overdosed with aggression.
I bumped into skinheadish looking blokes at Collogne who didnÂ´t really look like they liked my black clothes and gave me grim looks. But they apparently werenÂ´t that sure that they might be able knock out a nearly 100Kg bastard with a temper, so they let the attempt be.
ItÂ´s apeÂ´s nature to behave like that when there are lots of hormones and little brain involved.
Sadly so.

The poor families, poor, poor boy, the poor, poor girl..

May they give them bastard murderers hell in prison.

Heartland

Manchester Goth Couple Attacked.

Manchester Goth Couple Attacked.