The Gutter Press #739

The murder of 11 year old Joe Gering by 14 year old Michael Hamer is covered in all the papers. But whereas most play down the claim by Hamer of a sexual element this hasn't stopped the tabloids from making the most of it:

The Times:

What drove Michael Hamer to kill at 14 remains unclear, despite his last-minute decision yesterday to confess to murder just before he appeared for trial at Manchester Crown Court.  Detectives doubt his claims that he battered Joe Geeling then stabbed the helpless boy at least 16 times because the younger boy rebuffed his sexual advances...Detective Superintendent Martin Bottomley said: “I do not believe it is the full story. It’s my view that Joe was never going to leave that house.”..Mr Bottomley, who led the murder hunt, said: “One of his explanations for doing this to Joe was that he wanted someone else to feel as he did — frightened and intimidated. He chose Joe, he selected him in a premeditated manner because he was weak and vulnerable. Joe was under-height and underweight for his age — he was an easy victim.”

The Mirror is less nuanced:

LURED TO HIS DEATH BY GAY KILLER LETTER