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August 13
A couple may have been attacked in a skate park because they were goths, police in Lancashire have
said.
The 21-year-old man and his girlfriend, aged 20, were found with serious head injuries in the park at Stubby
Lee.
Their faces were so badly swollen that police could not tell which person was male and which was female.
Five
teenage boys, aged between 15 and 17, have been charged with section 18 wounding but officers are still appealing for witnesses.
The couple were initially taken to Fairfield General Hospital but later transferred to a hospital in Manchester.
They
remain in a serious but stable condition, a police spokeswoman said.
Det Insp Dean Holden, leading the inquiry, said:
"We believe they were attacked by a large group of people and we are still looking for other offenders."
All five
youths are due to appear at Burnley Magistrates' Court on Monday.
August 24th, 2007
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.'
ChristianGoth.com and Shadow of the Cross, Inc. have sent sympathy
cards to the family of Sophie and a card to Rob, on behalf of the Christian Goth Community, but please feel free to send your own card.
that address is:
To the Family of Sophie Lancaster
Detective Sergeant Stuart Dixon
FAO Rossendale
CID
Rawtenstall Police Station
Lord Street
Lancashire
BB4 7LY
United Kingdom
and for Rob:
Rob
Detective Sergeant Stuart Dixon
FAO Rossendale
CID
Rawtenstall Police Station
Lord Street
Lancashire
BB4 7LY
United Kingdom
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Families Imprisoned
in Indonesia
More than 40 Christian leaders imprisoned in April, after a video recording of them praying for Muslims was leaked to
Islamic organizations, have been charged under Article 156 KUPH. Under article 156 and 156a, anyone who expresses hatred,
opposition or insults one individual or groups of Indonesian citizens in public, will be imprisoned four to five years, or
fined 4,500 rupiah. Muslims claim Christians blasphemed the Koran by placing it on the floor and praying for millions of people
deceived by it. The Islamic organizations consider the video's content abusive and have released the video to the media. Among
the imprisoned are parents of young children. Pray for those in prison and their families. Ask God to give them boldness and
wisdom as they face these difficult challenges. Psalm 91, Isaiah 26:3
(Reported By VOM July 2007)
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