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Teenager admits schoolboy murder Teenager admits schoolboy murder
(9 minutes later)
A 15-year-old boy has been given a life sentence for murdering an 11-year-old boy who rebuffed his sexual advances.A 15-year-old boy has been given a life sentence for murdering an 11-year-old boy who rebuffed his sexual advances.
Joseph Geeling was beaten, repeatedly stabbed and dumped in a park in Bury, Greater Manchester, on 1 March 2006.Joseph Geeling was beaten, repeatedly stabbed and dumped in a park in Bury, Greater Manchester, on 1 March 2006.
Michael Hamer, who was 14 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to murder at the start of his trial at Manchester Crown Court.Michael Hamer, who was 14 at the time of the attack, pleaded guilty to murder at the start of his trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Hamer was told on Monday that he would serve a minimum of 12 years before being eligible for parole. Hamer was told that he would serve a minimum of 12 years before being eligible for parole.
A massive search was launched for Joe, a cystic fibrosis sufferer, after he failed to return home from school.A massive search was launched for Joe, a cystic fibrosis sufferer, after he failed to return home from school.
Police, firefighters, a mountain rescue team and members of Joe's family searched for the youngster in freezing temperatures.
His body was found hidden under debris in a tree-lined gulley in the park the next day.His body was found hidden under debris in a tree-lined gulley in the park the next day.
On Monday Alistair Webster QC, prosecuting, told the court Joe was reported missing by his mother at 1724 GMT on 1 March after failing to return home from school. 'Lured to house'
"In fact, by the time the police received the call by his anxious mother, he was already dead, killed by the defendant, Michael Hamer," he said. On Monday Alistair Webster QC, prosecuting, told the court Joe was reported missing by his mother at 1724 GMT after he failed to return home from school.
Mr Webster said Hamer had written Joe a letter - purportedly from the deputy head at his school - to lure him to his house.Mr Webster said Hamer had written Joe a letter - purportedly from the deputy head at his school - to lure him to his house.
It is clear that Joe was lured back to Michael's house, where the murder took place Alistair Webster QC
The court was told a second letter found at Hamer's home showed a clear sexual interest in Joe by Hamer. A total of four drafts of the letter were found by police.The court was told a second letter found at Hamer's home showed a clear sexual interest in Joe by Hamer. A total of four drafts of the letter were found by police.
Hamer claimed Joe came to his house to charge his mobile phone but this explanation did not "stand up to examination", Mr Webster said. Hamer claimed Joe came to his house to charge his mobile phone, but this explanation did not "stand up to examination", Mr Webster said.
"It is clear that Joe was lured back to Michael's house, where the murder took place," he said."It is clear that Joe was lured back to Michael's house, where the murder took place," he said.
Joe was beaten repeatedly with a frying pan, which left him with multiple bruises to the head and a fractured eye socket, Mr Webster told the court. We submit he [Hamer] simply did not feel able to admit that his motive was a sexual one David Steer QC, mitigating Joe was beaten repeatedly with a frying pan, which left him with multiple bruises to the head and a fractured eye socket, Mr Webster told the court.
Hamer told police he had got the frying pan because Joe had been looking at a photograph of his dead step-brother, which he refused to put down.Hamer told police he had got the frying pan because Joe had been looking at a photograph of his dead step-brother, which he refused to put down.
But Mr Webster said Hamer's account "lacked credibility" because no photo was found.But Mr Webster said Hamer's account "lacked credibility" because no photo was found.
Mother's calls
Hamer then went downstairs and took two knives from the kitchen and stabbed Joe 16 times, puncturing his windpipe in two places and cutting a major artery.Hamer then went downstairs and took two knives from the kitchen and stabbed Joe 16 times, puncturing his windpipe in two places and cutting a major artery.
Mr Webster told the court Joe was the victim of a "sustained and savage attack".Mr Webster told the court Joe was the victim of a "sustained and savage attack".
Although there was no evidence to indicate a sexual assault the evidence did not exclude one, he said.Although there was no evidence to indicate a sexual assault the evidence did not exclude one, he said.
After the attack, Hamer dragged Joe's body downstairs, put it in a wheelie bin and took the bin to Whitehead Park, where he hid it in a gulley.After the attack, Hamer dragged Joe's body downstairs, put it in a wheelie bin and took the bin to Whitehead Park, where he hid it in a gulley.
As he was disposing of the body, his mother phoned him on his mobile phone but Hamer gave no indication there was anything wrong, Mr Webster said. 'A wind-up'
He began cleaning Joe's blood from the house when he got home and told his mother the stains on the carpet were caused by a leaking red pen. When he returned to the house he began cleaning Joe's blood and told his mother the stains on the carpet were caused by a leaking red pen.
We submit he simply did not feel able to admit that his motive was a sexual one David Steer QC, mitigating
Mr Webster told the court Hamer did his homework that evening, an exercise based on the Ten Commandments.Mr Webster told the court Hamer did his homework that evening, an exercise based on the Ten Commandments.
Later, he admitted his responsibility for the death but told police he had set up the meeting with Joe as "a wind-up" - so Joe would go to meet him but no-one would be there.Later, he admitted his responsibility for the death but told police he had set up the meeting with Joe as "a wind-up" - so Joe would go to meet him but no-one would be there.
Hamer told police he was sorry for what he had done and would do anything to put it right, Mr Webster told the court. But David Steer QC, mitigating for the defendant, said Hamer killed Joe after an "adolescent sexual approach" was rejected.
David Steer QC, mitigating for the defendant, said Hamer killed Joe after an "adolescent sexual approach" was rejected.
Mr Steer described Hamer as "maladapted" - an isolated and psychologically flawed teenager.Mr Steer described Hamer as "maladapted" - an isolated and psychologically flawed teenager.
Hamer felt rejected and isolated, which was exacerbated because he never knew his older half-brother, Mark, who died from cancer. Hamer felt rejected and isolated, which was exacerbated because he never knew his older half-brother, Mark, who died from cancer and did not have much contact with his father. He had also been bullied at school.
He did not have much contact with his father which led to a "negative impact on his psychological development", Mr Steer said.
Court apology
Mr Steer said Hamer had been bullied at both primary and secondary school, suffering verbal abuse, violence, extortion and social exclusion.
"This previous background to the commission of the offence leads both psychologists to conclude he was a young man suffering from a abnormality of mind in the form of an adjustment disorder," he added."This previous background to the commission of the offence leads both psychologists to conclude he was a young man suffering from a abnormality of mind in the form of an adjustment disorder," he added.
I've been asked specifically by him [Hamer] and his mother to express their sorrow and deep regret for what happened in this case David Steer QC
Hamer told psychologists he lured Joe to his home to scare him and make the victim feel what it was like to be "isolated and scared" as he was when he was bullied.Hamer told psychologists he lured Joe to his home to scare him and make the victim feel what it was like to be "isolated and scared" as he was when he was bullied.
But Mr Steer told the court: "We submit he simply did not feel able to admit that his motive was a sexual one. He found it easier to give these other accounts."But Mr Steer told the court: "We submit he simply did not feel able to admit that his motive was a sexual one. He found it easier to give these other accounts."
He said Hamer had only admitted the real reason for the murder in the last few days.He said Hamer had only admitted the real reason for the murder in the last few days.
"He made a sexual advance towards Joe who responded to him as 'gay' and threatened to tell others about what he had tried to do," Mr Steer told the court."He made a sexual advance towards Joe who responded to him as 'gay' and threatened to tell others about what he had tried to do," Mr Steer told the court.
"He then tragically responded in the way he did.""He then tragically responded in the way he did."
Mr Steer said it was a "tragic and harrowing case", adding that as Hamer battered and stabbed his victim he could see the faces of his tormenting bullies. Mr Steer said: "I've been asked specifically by him and his mother to express their sorrow and deep regret for what happened in this case."
He added: "I've been asked specifically by him and his mother to express their sorrow and deep regret for what happened in this case."