michael causer, murdered hate crime victim
Tributes flood in to hate crime victim
AUG 4 2008 BY BEN ROSSINGTON, LIVERPOOL ECHO
TRIBUTES were today pouring in for a Merseyside teenager who has died less than a week after an alleged homophobic attack.
Eighteen-year-old Michael Causer’s family were at his bedside when he died at Walton neurology centre on Saturday.
He was being treated for serious injuries suffered in the attack in Tarbock Road, Huyton, at 11am on Friday, July 25.
Michael was found by paramedics lying still in a pool of blood. He was taken to Whiston hospital where, last weekend, doctors performed emergency surgery in an attempt to stem the swelling on his brain.
His distraught family kept a bedside vigil as he was moved to the specialist neurology centre at Walton last week.
Police have described the attack on Michael – who was openly gay – as a “hate crime”.
A special group on social networking site Facebook has been started in his honour.
On it, Michael’s cousin Chris Gledhill wrote: “I'd like to thank everyone for supporting our family and our Mickey through this terrible time.
“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.”
Liverpool councillor Paul Brant said he has received a number of calls from members of Liverpool’s gay and bisexual community who have been appalled by the attack which killed Michael.
Two men James O’Connor 19, of Reeds Road and Gavin Alker 19, of Woolfall Crescent, both Huyton, have alread appeared in court and been bailed on charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The ECHO understands police will be looking to upgrade the charge to murder.
A third man, Christopher Douglas, 19, of Page Moss Avenue, Huyton, has also appeared before Knowsley magistrates charged with witness intimidation in connection with the attack.
AUG 4 2008 BY BEN ROSSINGTON, LIVERPOOL ECHO
TRIBUTES were today pouring in for a Merseyside teenager who has died less than a week after an alleged homophobic attack.
Eighteen-year-old Michael Causer’s family were at his bedside when he died at Walton neurology centre on Saturday.
He was being treated for serious injuries suffered in the attack in Tarbock Road, Huyton, at 11am on Friday, July 25.
Michael was found by paramedics lying still in a pool of blood. He was taken to Whiston hospital where, last weekend, doctors performed emergency surgery in an attempt to stem the swelling on his brain.
His distraught family kept a bedside vigil as he was moved to the specialist neurology centre at Walton last week.
Police have described the attack on Michael – who was openly gay – as a “hate crime”.
A special group on social networking site Facebook has been started in his honour.
On it, Michael’s cousin Chris Gledhill wrote: “I'd like to thank everyone for supporting our family and our Mickey through this terrible time.
“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.”
Liverpool councillor Paul Brant said he has received a number of calls from members of Liverpool’s gay and bisexual community who have been appalled by the attack which killed Michael.
Two men James O’Connor 19, of Reeds Road and Gavin Alker 19, of Woolfall Crescent, both Huyton, have alread appeared in court and been bailed on charges of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The ECHO understands police will be looking to upgrade the charge to murder.
A third man, Christopher Douglas, 19, of Page Moss Avenue, Huyton, has also appeared before Knowsley magistrates charged with witness intimidation in connection with the attack.
HELP ME STOP HOMOPHOBIA!
Hug a 'gay' today!
I'm telling you, we're fab.
And set STRAIGHT(?) a homophobic person that you may know.
It's your civic duty.
help me?
