Sophie Lancaster trial judge leaves £5k in his will to foundation in her name

A judge who presided over the shocking murder case of Sophie Lancaster in 2008 left money in his will to a foundation set up in her name.

In a case that shocked the country, Sophie's life was brutally ended just three months short of her 21st birthday. She was walking home through a park in Rossendale, Lancashire, on August 11, 2007, with her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, when they were taunted by a group of youths then attacked simply for how they looked.

They stamped on Sophie's head and kicked her. Robert was also left for dead in the sickening attack in Stubbylee Park. Sadly, Sophie died days later in hospital.

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Trial judge, His Honour Anthony Russell KC - who died aged 72 in August last year - said in his sentencing remarks that Sophie and Robert, who both identified as goths, were totally innocent and the only motive for the violence was because they looked different.

He blasted a 'hate crime' against 'completely harmless people targeted because of their appearance'.

After retiring Judge Russell, who was the Recorder of Preston at the time, said he thought about the case often and praised the dignity shown during the trial by Sophie's mum Sylvia Lancaster OBE, who passed away in April, 2022.

Now it's been revealed he left £5,000 to The Sophie Lancaster Foundation in his will.

In a Facebook post, the foundation said: "We wanted to share some touching and really amazing news about a donation that we have received. His Honour Anthony Russell QC, who presided over Sophie’s murder trial in 2008, passed away last summer and left a legacy of £5,000 to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in his will.

"When Sylvia died in