Homophobic Tragedy In UK
A homophobic attack against a 19 year old man in Liverpool, UK has led to his death, and local residents, family and friends plan to march in his honour, along the street where he was attacked.
Friends and family of Michael Causer sat by his hospital bedside at Liverpool’s Walton Neurology Centre on Saturday as the young man passed away. He’d been in a critical condition for over a week.
“We were all there by his bedside. He did not go alone. He knew how much he was loved, and how many lives he had affected by his story,” wrote Michael’s cousin on a Facebook profile started in the victim’s honour.
Michael had been walking along Tarbock Road in Huyton, on the morning of Friday, July 25, when he was assaulted by two men. Police have labelled it as a “homophobic hate crime”.
“We will now re-approach the Crown Prosecution Service with a view to upgrading the charges on three men who are facing grievous bodily harm charges,” said Inspector Mike Jarman. “That will be done today and on their next appearance in court they will answer the new charges.”
Two men, teenagers themselves, have been charged with the assault on Causer which left him lying in a pool of blood. He was hospitalised and treated for trauma to the head, later underwent emergency surgery in an attempt to reduce swelling to his brain, and eventually died.
A third man has been charged with witness intimidation after the incident.
Plans for vigils and marches along Tarbock Road are currently being discussed, as gay rights activists and community leaders express shock and outrage over the attack.
In the meantime, gay clubs in Liverpool plan to play Michael’s favourite song over the weekend as messages of support for his family are read out.
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Thrawn04
said on the 6th Aug, 2008