The city of Liverpool is in outrage, after a teenager was murdered in a brutal homophobic attack.
Paramedics found 18-year-old Michael Causer in a pool of blood after being assaulted in Huyton’s Tarbuck Road on 25 July.
He suffered serious head injuries and was admitted to Whiston hospital, where his family kept a bedside vigil. There, doctors performed emergency surgery in an attempt to stem the swelling on his brain.
He remained in a critical condition for a week, before dying at around 12.30pm on 2 August.
Police confirmed that the crime was motivated by homophobia and originally charged James O’Connor, 19, and Gavin Alker, 18, with grievous bodily harm. Detectives, who are currently appealing for witnesses, are now expected to re-arrest the pair and upgrade the charges to murder.
Christopher Douglas, a 19-year-old man from Huyton, was also arrested and charged with witness intimidation. Another 18-year-old, from Prescot, was detained in connection with the attack and has been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
Since the incident, 2,500 outraged people have joined a memorial group on social networking site Facebook.
Chris Gledhill, who originated the forum, recently posted: “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.”
Another member, a journalist for the Liverpool Echo newspaper, wrote: “This is a truly tragic time. I want to dedicate all of my column in next Friday’s Echo to celebrating Michael’s life.”
A fellow supporter added: “I am so disgusted with the scum out there. They live in the dark ages. Why do they think somebody’s sexuality is anything to do with them? Or that they can deal out judgments on people? I am so angry that attitudes and ignorance haven’t changed.”
One advocate wrote about plans to create a gay forum in the area. He posted: “What happened to Michael just shows how much it is needed. If you email gwen.forkin@knowsley.gov.uk, she’ll let you know what’s happening and when, and how you can take part.”
Plans are also afoot for a protest march throughout the area, highlighting Liverpool’s need to mature its stance on sexuality and diversity.
Local councillor Steve Radford, the Liberal Party member for Tuebrook, compounded this with the claim that levels of homophobia are endemic in the Capital of Culture. “How many more gay youngsters will commit suicide, how many will have to be attacked or killed before this city takes this problem seriously?” he said earlier this week. “The Stormbreaker research shows it [levels of homophobia in Liverpool] is more prevalent than in the worst parts of East London. Around 14 per cent of gay households in the city, that’s about one in eight, have been attacked in the last couple of years by people they know, or perceive, as friends or neighbours.”
Earlier this summer, in a separate incident, a man was jailed for three years after stoning two lesbians for shopping in the city centre, while his partner and son stood laughing.
Liverpool is also one of the few UK cities which doesn’t celebrate gay Pride.
Gary Millar – the city’s senior gay councillor – told Pink Paper: “The people of Liverpool are deeply saddened by the death of Michael Causer. The loss of any life is distressing, but one caused by an attack based on someone’s sexuality makes it all the more abhorrent. Most of us understand that being homosexual is not a disease, or a crime or a danger to society.”
From the family home in Whiston’s Windy Arbor Road, where Causer lived, relatives released the following statement: “Mickey was very close to all members of his family and will be greatly missed by his Mum and Dad, brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces, and his grandparents.
“Mickey loved life and had many friends. He was popular and well liked. Our world will never be the same without him.”
Merseyside Police ask anyone with information to contact them on 0151 777 6564.
Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or, to speak with an officer from the Police Gay Support Network, contact them on 07764 621 430.