Now for the really Bad News...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
For further infromation goto: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.
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