Beheaded man led 'alternative' lifestyle

The Evening Standard ^ | March 16, 2005 | Rob Singh And Richard Edwards

[MadIvan]

A pensioner beheaded by an axeman in a London street was a homosexual who led an " alternative" lifestyle, it emerged today.

Brian Messitt, 67, died after a frenzied attack in Belsize Park on Monday morning.

It was revealed he had spent much of the past 10 years in India and became openly gay after splitting from his wife. Distraught relatives of Mr Messitt spoke for the first time as Joseph Sheehan, 37, a waiter from Camden, was due to appear today at Highbury Corner magistrates' court charged with his murder. Mr Messitt's brother Desmond, 57, said: "I just can't accept this has happened. Brian spent a lot of his time in India. He led an alternative lifestyle."

Pol ice sources say that diaries and personal papers show that the two men knew each other - but they are still mystified as to what the connection was between them.

Mr Messitt had been living with son Sean and his girlfriend at their flat in Hampstead.

[MadIvan]

I wonder what they mean by "alternative" - living in India would suggest he was some New Age loon. I can understand wanting to tell them that quartz crystals are rubbish for healing anything, but beheading?

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Ping!

[elhombrelibre]

At least his killer didn't make scrambled eggs and brains after the murder, like the weirdo caught yesterday. There's an alternative lifestyle the world can do without.

[familyop]

"Beheaded man led 'alternative' lifestyle"

One would expect a beheaded man to lead an alternative lifestyle.

[Caipirabob]

Beheaded man led 'alternative' lifestyle

Oh boy...another "Jilted Luvvah" story? Man, break-ups with those nut jobs always come down hard...

[battlegearboat]

What other alternative did he have?

[longtermmemmory]

alternative lifestyle = homosexual

that simple.

[highlander_UW]

One would expect a beheaded man to lead an alternative lifestyle.

Indeed...and apparently he led an alternative lifestyle before he was beheaded as well.

[GOP_Proud]

< was a homosexual who led an " alternative" lifestyle >

...but if "homosexual=alternative lifestyle" why was it worded like this? Strange.

[sd-joe]

>> "Joseph Sheehan, 37, a waiter from Camden" <<

Man oh man, don't tee off the waiter. Just one too many bad tips?

[Route101]

real headline....Homo gets be-headed by old boy friend...next story....

[Chieftain]

BINGO!

[libs_kma]

Behind this whole thing is just a girly-man story?

I thought there would be something else to it all. Thats high drama for a pooftah lovers quarrel.

[nmh]

Sounds like he was a homosexual (alternative lifestyle).

[longtermmemmory]

either it was sloppy writing and nothing more


or


it is part of the propaganda effort to stop using alternative lifestyle as a description of homosexuality.

It is akin to when the homosexuals decided it was their "homosexual orientation" as opposed to their "homosexual preference." Preference implied choice and decisions whereas orientation implies an absence of choice and thus acceptance for the absence of choice.

I am more inclined to go with another idiot illiterate reporter who could not correctly report the hour of the day.

[longtermmemmory]

fair and balanced.

a better headline.

[Hatteras]

Moral: Never argue with your alternative lifestyle significant other in the toolshed.

[niteowl77]

Thats high drama for a pooftah lovers quarrel.

Where high drama is a specialty of the house. Considering the propensity for domestic violence among the "alternative lifestyle" subculture, the only thing making this attack more lurid than others is probably the use of an axe in the street, rather than a kitchen knife in a condo.

[Woodworker]

Can a axeman be a girly-man?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Can a axeman be a girly-man?

Sure they can.