TWO teenagers who killed Sophie Lancaster because of the way she dressed must wait to find out if they have been successful in appealing against their sentence.
Three judges in the Court of Appeal in London heard more than two hours of legal argument on behalf of the pair and three others who took part in the attack, but they adjourned their decision.
Sophie, 20, a former student at Haslingden High School, was killed in an savage attack on herself and her boyfriend Robert Maltby in a park in their home town of Bacup last year.
Both dressed as goths and police said they were attacked because of how they looked.
Sophie died 13 days later in hospital and Robert, 21, has been left permanently scarred.
Brendan Harris and Ryan Herbert, both 16, were convicted of her murder. Danny Hulme, 16, Joseph Hulme, 18, and Daniel Mallett, 18, were also jailed for their parts in the attack.
Harris was ordered to serve a minimum term of 18 years and Herbert a minimum of 16 years and three months.
They all appealed against their sentences at a hearing before the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Owen and Mr Justice Christopher Clarke yesterday.
The three judges were urged in all cases to find that the sentences imposed were too long, mainly in view of their ages.
When sentencing the teenagers Judge Anthony Russell QC, sitting at Preston Crown Court, described the attacks as “feral thuggery”.
At the close of the hearing yesterday Lord Judge said the court had decided to take time to consider “our judgment and our reasons in this case”.
In the past year a charity has been set up in Sophie’s memory by her mother Sylvia. The S.O.P.H.I.E – Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred and Intolerance Everywhere campaign to “raise awareness of the injustice perpetrated against Sophie and work towards a more tolerant, less violent society”.
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