Sunday, March 01, 2009

The Brutal Killing of Michael Causer















They attacked him when he was sleeping. They punched and kicked him in the head. They burned him with a lighter. They dumped his bleeding body in the street.

Now one of the thugs who killed Michael Causer has been acquitted of murder.

According to evidence put before the jury, the trigger-point for the violence came when sexually explicit images of the trainee hairdresser were found on his mobile phone, prompting a “sustained and brutal” attack on his naked sleeping form and leaving him with a fractured skull and a swollen brain. Mr Causer was punched, kicked and finally battered around the head with a heavy history book so forcibly that the book’s spine broke, the court heard. It was alleged that Mr Alker, who had never met Mr Causer, screamed “You little queer faggot” adding, “He’s a little queer, he deserves it.” During the trial it was also claimed that a cigarette lighter was used to burn the hair on Mr Causer’s legs, and that threats were made to rip out his body piercings with a knife. But the jury accepted Mr Alker’s evidence that he had been acting in self-defence after he denied making homophobic comments, blaming the attack on O’Connor.

And a Liverpool councillor has a question for the people of Merseyside.

"The question has to be asked whether the 10-2 jury not-guilty verdict into Gavin Alker means Merseyside society thinks it's acceptable to beat up gay people?

Good question eh?

But good for his parents for fighting back.

“We won’t let Micky be pushed aside because he was gay, never in a million years...”

Poor gentle Michael would have been so proud of them.

The bullies will be BEATEN.

The struggle continues....

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Killers found not criminally responsible for their actions . . . .

Tonight [Monday] in the second half of the National News, CBC TV.

csw said...

Thanks for highlighting Michael's case. There has been precious little coverage in England but Michael's family and the LGBT community in Liverpool are determined to fight for justice for Michael.

Simon said...

Hi Torontonian...I'm sorry I didn't see the National story.
What I do know is that I simply can't understand how somebody who took part in a fatal attack on somebody could get off scot free. Even when he couldn't use the "gay panic" defence because the guy was sleeping, he still walked.
Boy would I like to ask that jury some questions...

Simon said...

Hi csw...This is the second post I've written about Michael. It's a very sad story and this outrageous verdict makes me really angry. The only consolation is that the police seemed to have acted in a very gay-positive manner...and I am moved to see the LGBT community and its friends in Liverpool standing up for justice. Good luck.