Inquest resumes into hanging death of Emo teenager

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."