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| London bus attack: Boys told couple 'to show how lesbians have sex' | London bus attack: Boys told couple 'to show how lesbians have sex' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A group of boys who subjected two women on a bus to homophobic comments "wanted to be shown how lesbians have sex", a court was told. | |
| Melania Geymonat and Christine Hannigan were harassed and pelted with coins by the boys in north London on 30 May. | Melania Geymonat and Christine Hannigan were harassed and pelted with coins by the boys in north London on 30 May. |
| Three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, have admitted public order offences. | Three boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, have admitted public order offences. |
| A Highbury Corner Youth Court hearing is deciding if an aggravating factor of homophobia should be considered when sentencing the 17-year-old. | A Highbury Corner Youth Court hearing is deciding if an aggravating factor of homophobia should be considered when sentencing the 17-year-old. |
| He has contested that he was hostile towards the women based on their sexual orientations. | He has contested that he was hostile towards the women based on their sexual orientations. |
| Ms Hannigan told the court the couple were targeted "because of who they were". | Ms Hannigan told the court the couple were targeted "because of who they were". |
| 'Homophobic comments' | 'Homophobic comments' |
| She added: "We were clearly together in a romantic sense, we were being affectionate. | She added: "We were clearly together in a romantic sense, we were being affectionate. |
| "It is pretty intimidating being cornered and making homophobic comments. | "It is pretty intimidating being cornered and making homophobic comments. |
| "They wanted us to show them how lesbians have sex. They said 'show us' and I don't remember if it was on its own or part of a larger phrase but the words were said." | "They wanted us to show them how lesbians have sex. They said 'show us' and I don't remember if it was on its own or part of a larger phrase but the words were said." |
| When asked whether the teenagers were being aggressive or annoying, Ms Hannigan replied: "I think they were being both. | When asked whether the teenagers were being aggressive or annoying, Ms Hannigan replied: "I think they were being both. |
| "They were being extremely aggressive verbally and then they made it physical." | "They were being extremely aggressive verbally and then they made it physical." |
| Defence solicitor David Wood said although the boy threw coins and made a kissing gesture at the couple, the action was not based on their sexual orientations. | Defence solicitor David Wood said although the boy threw coins and made a kissing gesture at the couple, the action was not based on their sexual orientations. |
| The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |