Teenager admits murdering cystic fibrosis boy

MANCHESTER, Oct 16 (Reuters) A teenager has pleaded guilty to the brutal murder of an 11-year-old schoolboy who he beat and stabbed to death before dumping his body in a park.

Michael Hamer, 15, admitted at Manchester Crown Court that he had killed Joe Geeling, who suffered from the incurable condition cystic fibrosis, after luring the youngster back to his house.

Geeling vanished in March on his way home from St Gabriel's Roman Catholic School in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Prosecutors said Hamer, who went to the same school, had faked a letter from the headteacher saying Geeling had to meet Hamer because the older boy was going to act as the 11-year-old's mentor.

The meeting was to take place at Hamer's home.

Hamer attacked Geeling at the house, repeatedly hitting him about the head with a frying pan until it broke. He then took some knives from the kitchen and stabbed him 16 times.

He put Geeling's body in a wheelie bin and took it to a nearby park where he dumped it in a wooded gully and covered it with debris.

Prosecutors said there might have been a sexual motive but no evidence of any such assault.

Geeling's body was discovered the following day after a massive search by police, firefighters and family members.

In a tribute read out in court, Geeling's father Tom said his son was a ''brave and kind-hearted little boy who had many friends and loved playing''.

''Once you met Joe he generally left an impression,'' the statement said.

''We cannot make any sense whatsoever about Hamer's actions.

My wife and I weep all the time and we each have very bad days when we simply cannot function.'' Geeling's funeral service attracted hundreds of people, with family and pupils from his school coming to pay their last respects.

Hamer, who was 14 at the time of the attack, had indicated at an earlier hearing that he would admit the murder.

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