Teen gets 3 1/2 years for setting fire to & killing gay 18yo.

[Shaun]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/23/steven-simpson-gay-teen-burned-birthday-_n_2939092.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

A young British man has been convicted of manslaughter after killing a gay teen by setting him on fire.

The BBC reports that 20-year-old Jordan Sheard has been sentenced to three and a half years in jail for the death of Steven Simpson after pleading guilty to manslaughter charges. Simpson, 18, died one day after sustaining "significant burns" in June 2012, according to the report.

Simpson had Asperger's syndrome, a speech impairment and epilepsy, the Yorkshire Post noted. The teen had reportedly been dared to strip down to his underpants before being doused in tanning oil, after which Sheard set him aflame at the party. Other reports said that anti-gay messages, including "gay boy" and "I love d*ck," had been found scrawled across Simpson's body.

Detective Sean Middleton described Simpson to the BBC as "a very caring and likeable young man" and a "generous spirit was taken advantage of and a single thoughtless act resulted in his death."

A number of local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates said they believed Sheard's prison term to be too lenient, but prosecuting attorney Tim Warburton nonetheless told The Star that the sentence was "within the range of what would be expected had it been considered a hate crime," and that it would not be appealed.

"This was a cruel case of bullying based on Steven’s sexuality and disability," Warburton is quoted as saying. "While we accept Jordan did not intend to kill Steven, his actions did lead to his death."

Meanwhile, Sheard's attorney said his client had been "deeply and significantly affected by what he has done and the tragic consequences that ensued," which describing Simpson's death as a "stupid prank that went wrong in a bad way," the Daily Mail noted.

Not sure if this story's been posted before because it happened last June, but the sentencing was today.

I can't understand... three and a half years?!

[Munchkins]

Is that all? are you taking the piss?

[Novo]

I don't really know how they can class setting Fire to someone and killing them as " manslaughter " it is just Brutal Murder

[Brother Leon]

Joke. I know a couple people who got 5 years over London Riots ffs.

[Ninastar]

....

i have no words

the justice system here sucks sometimes.

[Drew.]

'manslaughter'??? facepalm

[Marsh.]

That's horrific.

[Roy Mars III]

since when was setting someone on fire considered a 'prank'

[Livia]

Lets hope they manage to pack a life's worth of misery into those measly three and a half years.

[Roy Mars III]

http://www.jobsnhire.com/articles/3850/20130324/autistic-gay-teen-steven-simpson-burned-death-birthday-killer-sentenced.htm

As the festivities moved along Simpson became increasingly drunk and unresponsive. Sheard was then seen taunting Simpson and writing vulgar messages, including the terms "gay boy" and "I love d*ck," all over Simpson's body. Another person attending the party eventually retrieved a bottle of tanning oil, which was poured all over Simpson. Soon, chants of "Light it, light it," could be heard from the onlookers.

Sheard did not object. He proceeded to hold a cigarette lighter to Simpson's groin, immediately setting the birthday boy ablaze. Flames quickly consumed his body and, rather than help Simpson, Sheard and others quickly ran away. A neighbor came over and eventually was able to put out the fire, but not until burns covered 60 percent of his body. Simpson died in the hospital the next day.

how is that not murder?

[Shaun]

I hope the partygoers chanting are haunted by it. Just... so so dumb.

[Novo]

Who would even want to witness that? let alone Chant for it to Happen.. unreal

[Glenn.]

It's things like this that make me wish I lived somewhere else.

Absolutely disgusting sentence :bored:

[Jack_]

Vile.

But rest assured he'll soon be having a few gay experiences himself where he's going. Lucky boy, I'm sure you'll be loving dick soon enough son once it's shoved down your throat :pat:

[iRyan]

Only 3 ****ing years for murdering someone!? Are you kidding me!?

[Black Dagger]

What a ****ing beast :bored:

I hope he's going to suffer during those 3 years (which will probs be down to 2 for 'good behaviour') ****ing pathetic.

[Kizzy]

What must the family of this poor lad be feeling at this sentence?
It is unbelievable how horrific that must have been... just unbelievable.

[Jake.]

Just disgusting. Sad that scum like that are allowed to breathe.

[Ammi]

"While we accept Jordan did not intend to kill Steven, his actions did lead to his death."

Meanwhile, Sheard's attorney said his client had been "deeply and significantly affected by what he has done and the tragic consequences that ensued," which describing Simpson's death as a "stupid prank that went wrong in a bad way," the Daily Mail noted.


...it's really very hard to understand the justice system at all sometimes...how someone can douse another person in a flammable substance, set fire to them and then the inevitable happens...and it's said in defense that 'they didn't intend' to kill them...and it was just a 'prank gone wrong'....as if there were ever a high possibility of any other outcome..it's just staggering....

...I can't imagine what that poor guys family must be feeling at this 'justice'...for the cruel and callous way he died....what was done to him is sickening enough but the sentencing seems an extra punishment aimed at all who knew and loved him...sometimes there are stories that you read that make you lose all faith in the 'justice' system..and this is one of them...

[Jords]

awful

[Kazanne]

Can't say I'm surprised the justice system sucks in this country,he'de have got more had he robbed a bank,

[Apple202]

wtf??? 3 and a half years?

[SharkAttack]

Thrown-up half in the mouth kind of story. You have to wonder what ****ing day we're in for this sort of **** to still happen. Liked it better when the cruel ones would, at most, flush someone head in the toilet, not light them on fire. :-/

[joeysteele]

Can't say I'm surprised the justice system sucks in this country,he'de have got more had he robbed a bank,

He likely would have indeed kazanne, they clearly succeeded in playing very heavily on that he hadn't meant to kill him.

For me, I wouldn't have cared about that, there was no need to humiliate the lad and have him strip then set him on fire,for me,I would have dismissed that argument of not meaning to kill him.

In my view he not only set out to greatly harm him, he also planned it too by humiliating him, this should have had him put away for decades and to be very strongly supervised too.
These crimes really get me angry when you see a sentence like this.

[Nedusa]

He likely would have indeed kazanne, they clearly succeeded in playing very heavily on that he hadn't meant to kill him.

For me, I wouldn't have cared about that, there was no need to humiliate the lad and have him strip then set him on fire,for me,I would have dismissed that argument of not meaning to kill him.

In my view he not only set out to greatly harm him, he also planned it too by humiliating him, this should have had him put away for decades and to be very strongly supervised too.
These crimes really get me angry when you see a sentence like this.

I totally agree with your post, too many times we have heard people escape serious prison sentences because they never set out to kill someone but the person dies or incurs serious injury from the perpetrator in any case. If you are of a disposition whereby you think it is acceptable to decide to pick on an innocent stranger and proceed to humiliate,torture,abuse and inflict bodily harm on that person then you have no place in a civilised society. Those actions are evil plain and simple and anyone who involves themselves in this type of activity in my book needs to be locked away for "life" or euthanized.

The defence of "I never meant to really harm him/her" is nonsense, once you decide to make that person a target for your evil actions you have crossed the line and whatever happens as a result is your fault and you should be treated accordingly. Society has no place for such evil murderous psychos...!!!

[joeysteele]

I totally agree with your post, too many times we have heard people escape serious prison sentences because they never set out to kill someone but the person dies or incurs serious injury from the perpetrator in any case. If you are of a disposition whereby you think it is acceptable to decide to pick on an innocent stranger and proceed to humiliate,torture,abuse and inflict bodily harm on that person then you have no place in a civilised society. Those actions are evil plain and simple and anyone who involves themselves in this type of activity in my book needs to be locked away for "life" or euthanized.

The defence of "I never meant to really harm him/her" is nonsense, once you decide to make that person a target for your evil actions you have crossed the line and whatever happens as a result is your fault and you should be treated accordingly. Society has no place for such evil murderous psychos...!!!

I agree with all you say above too, it is for me, the only logical conclusion to this crime.

[Cherie]

I remember reading this at the time, and being close to tears. There really are some awful people in the world.

[Niamh.]

Setting someone on fire is a "prank gone wrong" wtf......... it was supposed to have ended up being a funny joke in some way?

[Me. I Am Salman]

****ing stupid sentence for one of the most painful ways to die

[Marc]

It's sentencing like this that confuse me. Why only 3 and a half years? This guy has clearly shown hatred towards a 'type' of person, not just one person. He's gonna have the same feelings when he leaves.

[lostalex]

****ing stupid sentence for one of the most painful ways to die

Well I would hope that his body would have gone into shock and shut off the pain receptors very early, but I agree, this sentence is a joke.

The fact that there is a history of abuse and bullying (real bullying, not BB bullying) should have meant that this monster would have gotten a much longer sentence, because this was not a 1 off incident, this is something that has been going on for a very long time.

This guy didn't just kill someone with fire, he also tortured this kid for YEARS before he killed him with fire.

[the truth]

fffs these barstweards should burn in hell...AS FOR PRANKS? WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE IS THAT? I HAVE PRANKS ANYWAY THEY NEARLY ALWAYS END IN DANGER AND DISASTER WITH A BUNCH OF PUNKS TRYING TO BE ALL MACHO AND IMPRESS EACH OTHER ..lock them up FOR LIFE.....AND I DO MEAN FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER......SCUM....QUITE TEMPTING TO HAVE THEM HUNG REALLY.

[Jack_]

fffs these barstweards should burn in hell...AS FOR PRANKS? WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE IS THAT? I HAVE PRANKS ANYWAY THEY NEARLY ALWAYS END IN DANGER AND DISASTER WITH A BUNCH OF PUNKS TRYING TO BE ALL MACHO AND IMPRESS EACH OTHER ..lock them up FOR LIFE.....AND I DO MEAN FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER......SCUM....QUITE TEMPTING TO HAVE THEM HUNG REALLY.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2008/06/30/PaulDacre460.jpg

[lostalex]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Media/Pix/pictures/2008/06/30/PaulDacre460.jpg

who dat?