Young British gay
bashers convicted of manslaughter

Four British youths were convicted of manslaughter Wednesday for beating to death a man who had survived the fatal nail-bombing of a British gay pub six years ago. Barman David Morley, 37, was beaten to death by a gang of youths in central London in October 2004.

A jury at London's Central Criminal Court found a 15-year-old girl and three men aged 17 to 21 innocent of murder but convicted them of manslaughter and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. The four--Reece Sargeant, 21; Darren Case, 18; a 17-year-old boy and the 15-year-old girl, neither of whom can be identified because of their age--were due to be sentenced on January 23. Two other youths were acquitted of all charges.

Some commentators compared the violence of the young gang to Stanley Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange. Prosecutor Richard Horwell said the gang, seeking "violence for its own sake," beat and kicked eight people in five separate attacks within an hour on October 30, 2004. The attacks took place along the south bank of the River Thames, near popular bars, theaters, and restaurants. "It was random, indiscriminate violence for what can only have been pleasure," Horwell told the court.

Morley was working at the Admiral Duncan gay pub in London's Soho district when it was bombed by right-wing extremist David Copeland in April 1999. Three people were killed, and 73 injured, and Morley suffered minor burns to his hands. Copeland, who also set off nail bombs targeting Asians and blacks in London during a 13-day reign of terror, was jailed for life. (AP)