|
|
|
|
The following report appeared in today's Daily Telegraph:
Internet boy convicted of grooming his own killer
A 15-year-old grammar school boy yesterday became the first person in Britain to be convicted of inciting someone to murder him.
The boy, who can be identified only by the pseudonym John, invented a cast of characters in an internet chatroom as part of an elaborate plan to commission his own murder.
Some of his inspiration came, from James Bond films and the science fiction blockbuster Men in Black.
He was 14 when he fell in love with Mark, a boy two years older, and adopted the guise of a female secret service agent to order his friend to stab him in a suburban alleyway. Mark was meant to end his life with the words: “I love you, bro’.”
Mark carried out the stabbing in Altrincham, Cheshire, shortly before 8 pm on June 29 last year.
It emerged that John had introduced himself to Mark, on the internet as a teenage girl. Mark performed sexual acts for the “girl” on a webcam which John watched.
Later John introduced a series of other characters to the chatroom, including a second girlfriend, a stalker and two secret service agents modelled on Bond films.
One of the agents, identified as Agent 47695, told Mark she had been assigned to protect John. Later she ordered Mark to kill the boy, promising him as a reward a gun, a large sum of money and a meeting with the Prime Minister.
John, wearing a check shirt, pale blue tie and dark trousers, sat crying in the dock as the incredible story was told. Mark, in a blue and white jumper, sat a few feet away.
John pleaded guilty to inciting someone to murder him – a crime described by Judge David Maddison as “extraordinary” – and perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced to a three-year supervision order.
Mark admitted attempted murder and was given a two-year supervision order. The boys were also banned from contacting each other. John was ordered only yo use the internet under supervision and told that he must never go into a chatroom again.
Judge Maddison, the Recorder of Manchester, said: “Skilled writers of fiction would struggle to conjure up a plot such as this
“It is staggering to be dealing with a case that arises out of a 14-year-old boy’s invention of false personalities, false relationships and events arranged for his own killing at the hands of a 16-year-old boy whom he had met via an interact chatroom.”
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Truth is indeed sometimes stranger than fiction...
I wonder if "John" could be thought of as suicidal, in a weird sort of way? Hmmm... ?? ??
And speaking of "skilled writers of fiction"...we have several of those here...maybe one of them would like to tackle writing this, focusing on the psychological underpinnings of all these interesting people.
Thanks Nigel, for another chapter in the Great Human Drama!
[Updated on: Sun, 30 May 2004 11:10] by Moderator
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
 |
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
|
|
|
It is a weird story.
Sometimes these things also become frightening to thos enot involved. This shows the over-riding need for those who feel in any way vulnerbale to protect their identities online, and to protect elements of things about them in order to protect themsleves form identification.
I think it does no harm to reiterate rules for meeting:- public place
- crowded
- more than one entry and exit point
- make sure someone knows where youare going and why
- ideally have a friend nearby
- ensure that the friend will intervene by callingthe authorities if in the slightest doubt
These thinsg need to be repeated form time to time.
Additionally, even if you have had a lenghty relationship online with someone, do not be in the least surprised if their persoanl details turn out to be different when you meet. This is as it shoudl be, especially if one or both of you are young people. Identity is a precious thing.
I am involved right now with two entirely separate cases where identity is in doubt. One is provable, the other mysterious. Yet neither scenario is frightening, only sad.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve
|
 |
Really getting into it |
Location: London, England
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 465
|
|
|
Nigel wrote:
>>The following report appeared in today's Daily Telegraph:<<
What's a nice boy like you doing reading the Daily Telegraph? 
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
|
] 
A Place of Safety
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
Strange court case 
