THE family of a schoolgirl who was bludgeoned to death with a cricket bat have set up a petition to keep her killer behind bars.

Lauren Pilkington-Smith was found battered to death near at her home in Leigh by her grandad in July 2005.

Kieron Smith- then 17- was convicted of murder at Liverpool Crown Court in January 2006 and given the maximum sentence for a defendant of that age which is 15 years.

The court heard that the murder followed a game of cricket involving Smith, formerly of Pilling Street.

The attack probably occurred as Smith and Lauren were walking back from the game through woodland.

After Lauren’s death, Smith placed a twig in each of her nostrils and placed a sock in her mouth, before trying to conceal her body among undergrowth.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Foskett said: “He must have lost his temper for some unknown reason and mounted a sustained and violent attack on her.”

“He hit her with something that either was - or was like - a cricket bat at least 10 times with the intention of killing her, albeit that the attack was not premeditated.”

The judge added that Smith had shown no signs of remorse and is now considering an appeal against his murder conviction.

He is due to be eligible to apply for parole before July 13, 2020.

If he is freed he will stay on perpetual life licence in the community subject to prison recall.

In a petition that Lauren’s sister Rebecca set up on Change.org asking people to sign it in opposition of Smith being released, she said: ”Lauren sustained over 100 injuries after Kieron Smith attacked her in a fit of rage.

“As a family we couldn’t say our goodbyes properly as the injuries sustained resulted in a closed coffin.

“We continue to live our lives day by day and the thought of him being released makes us feel that we could not live our lives the same again.”

To sign the petition on Change.org click here.