Gay barman killing: 6 held

13 April 2012

Six people were arrested today over the murder of a gay barman.

David Morley, 37, died at the hands of teenage thugs - including two girls - who carried out a savage spate of street attacks near the Royal Festival Hall in central London at the weekend.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Six people have been arrested in south London today in connection with the murder of David Morley.

"All six are currently in custody in separate south London police stations."

Detectives are continuing to treat Mr Morley's murder as being motivated by homophobia until proved otherwise.

Five years ago Mr Morley, known to friends as "Sinders", was working behind the bar at the Admiral Duncan gay pub in Soho when it was targeted by fascist nail bomber David Copeland, who had already struck at Asian and black targets in Brick Lane and Brixton.

Three people were killed and 73 injured in the Admiral Duncan bombing. Mr Morley suffered minor burns to his hands.

When he was attacked at 3am last weekend, Mr Morley suffered 40 distinct bruises, a ruptured spleen and fractured ribs and died from his injuries.

He had been sitting on a bench by the river for three hours, chatting to an old friend he had met that night.

His 29-year-old friend was also injured but survived and is now out of hospital.

The two men were approached by a group of six youths - two black boys, two white boys and two white girls.

They made some brief comments before attacking Mr Morley and his friend and stealing some of their belongings.

The gang moved underneath a nearby footbridge and launched a second attack on a group of victims, at least some of whom were French.

That group is also believed to have included a woman, who was attacked.

Minutes later a third attack occurred in Jubilee Gardens, where a man was battered over the head with what he believed was a bottle.

In at least two of the three attacks, victims were gay.

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