In a ruling from the U.K. that has shocked the LGBT community, 20-year-old Jordan Sheard has received 42 months in jail for the killing of an autistic and openly gay teen. Sheard was charged with manslaughter after setting 18-year-old Steven Simpson on fire last year.
On June 22, 2012, Steven Simpson, who suffered from Asperger's syndrome, a speech impairment and epilepsy, had some friends over to his house in celebration of his birthday. One of the people not invited was Jordan Sheard, who barely knew Simpson but attended the party with some of his friends.
As the festivities moved along Simpson became increasingly drunk and unresponsive. Sheard was then seen taunting Simpson and writing vulgar messages, including the terms "gay boy" and "I love d*ck," all over Simpson's body. Another person attending the party eventually retrieved a bottle of tanning oil, which was poured all over Simpson. Soon, chants of "Light it, light it," could be heard from the onlookers.
Sheard did not object. He proceeded to hold a cigarette lighter to Simpson's groin, immediately setting the birthday boy ablaze. Flames quickly consumed his body and, rather than help Simpson, Sheard and others quickly ran away. A neighbor came over and eventually was able to put out the fire, but not until burns covered 60 percent of his body. Simpson died in the hospital the next day.
Initially during the trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Sheard claimed that Simpson had set himself ablaze, though as the case went on Sheard eventually admitted to being the one responsible for the fire.
Perhaps most unsettling for many are the sentiments of the judge in handing down the verdict. Judge Roger Keen observed that the party had involved "good-natured horseplay" though Sheard failed in his judgment with this "highly dangerous act." Keen further stated that Sheard's unwillingness to help Simpson when the situation turned dire weighed heavily in his sentencing.
This ruling has come at the same time that the U.K has been buzzing over the story of Lucy Meadows, a British elementary school teacher who underwent transgender surgery this year. Her story set off a national debate and Meadows was soon hounded by paparazzi and pundits alike. She was found dead in her home Tuesday, the recipient of what appears to be a self-inflicted gun shot.
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