The young teenage boy who pleaded not guilty to the brutal murder of the sweet and lovely Sophie Lancaster has today been found guilty. He will be sentenced along with his despicable co-murderer. They will also be sentenced with three other young boys for the savage attack on Sophie’s courageous boyfriend, Rob. The sentences will be given in April and I can only hope that they fit the crime.
You guys know me - I am a tolerant person. I’ve always recognised that we are a product of our upbringing. I’ve often argued that children who have been brought up in a culture of aggression or have been abused, neglected and trapped in a cycle of deprivation – are often judged harshly as adults when they fulfill that circle of violence. I don’t know what kind of background these thugs are from but but I really cannot accept that a deprived upbringing would come even close to excusing such a vile and gratuitous act of cruelty. There is simply no excuse for what they did to this innocent and defenceless couple, Sophie and Rob.
And what makes it all the more disturbing is that there is no remorse at all shown from the perpetrators. That’s the scary thing. This can’t go on.
Why do humans turn on each other?
To Rob – never change who you are. They musn’t win.
Sophie’s brave mum, Sylvia said . . .
“Sophie was a thoughtful, sensitive individual and she would not have wanted her death to have been in vain. I hope therefore that, as a society, we can use what has happened to reflect on where we are going and what changes we need to make to prevent others suffering in this way.”
You said . . .