The legacy of Sophie Lancaster: “We should be embracing difference, not scared of it”

This story was originally published in August 2017, marking the 10-year anniversary of Sophie Lancaster’s death. In the early hours of Saturday, August 11, 2007, Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were walking home in the Lancashire town of Bacup when Robert was set upon in a vicious and completely unprovoked attack by a large group of teenagers. When Sophie went to his aid, she too was attacked. Both were repeatedly kicked in the head and left bleeding and unconscious. While Robert eventually emerged from his coma, Sophie never did, and she passed away on August 24, 2007.  She was just 20 years old.  The five perpetrators charged with the crime were aged between 15 and 17. Two received life sentences for murder while the other thr...

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