Jury retire in Michael Causer murder trial

Feb 19 2009 by Chloe Griffiths, Liverpool Daily Post

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JURORS have retired to consider their verdict in the trial of a man accused of killing an openly gay teenager in a homophobic attack.

Gavin Alker denies punching, kicking and using a hardback book to beat hairdresser Michael Causer, 18.

Jurors heard the 19-year-old shouted homophobic insults as he battered Mr Causer, who had been asleep after an all-night drinking session at a friend’s house.

Mr Causer’s friend James O’Connor, 19, formerly of Huyton, but now of The Brow, Runcorn, has already admitted murder.

He invited his friend Alker round to the party on Biglands Drive, Huyton, on July 25, last year. It is alleged Alker launched two separate attacks on Mr Causer after seeing intimate pictures of him with an ex-boyfriend.

But Alker, of Fleetwood Walk, Runcorn, has always denied murder.

The case continues.