Inquest resumes into hanging death of Emo teenager
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An inquest resumes today into the death of a teenager believed
to have hanged himself after being bullied because of his fashion
sense and music tastes.
Sam Leeson, 13, who wore black clothes and was a follower of the
darkly emotional Emo rock genre, was found hanging in his bedroom
in Gloucester in June last year.
Following his death, classmates and relatives said he was targeted
online via his Bebo webpage because of his "alternative dress" and
involvement with the Emo scene.
Emo, which is short for emotional music, is described as "punk with
emotion", and has been made popular by bands like My Chemical
Romance, whose album The Black Parade topped the charts.
The inquest resumes at Gloucester Coroner's Court, sitting at
Gloucestershire Shire Hall.
After his death, Sam's mother, Sally Cope, said her son was a
"huge" music fan with a taste for Emo-style bands, but that he also
liked The Foo Fighters.
She said: "He was into his appearance and often wore his black
skinny jeans. He was an alternative dresser and I think other
teenagers did make comments about that."
Ms Cope, from Tredworth, Gloucester, called for social networking
sites like Bebo to be more heavily vetted for malicious
comments.
Peter Rowland, head teacher at Severn Vale School, in Quedgeley,
said Sam was a "wonderfully creative" boy who had never complained
of bullying.
More than 100 goodbye messages and dozens of floral tributes were
heaped outside the gates of Severn Vale School. One read: "Miss you
Sam. No one can hurt you now X."
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aacg - http://aacg to journalists
Commented 44 weeks ago
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I left my e-mail on this site and I can send you the article if you feel like learning something.