England: Man's body found in embers of Guy Fawkes day bonfire

Was Bonfire Death A 'Happy-Slapping'?
Updated:09:32, Wednesday November 07, 2007

Police are investigating reports that a man whose body was found in the embers of a bonfire was the victim of "happy slapping" gang.

Police at the sceneDetectives are "keeping an open mind" about an eyewitness claim that Stephen Croft was attacked by youths who filmed themselves on mobile phones as they wielded a flaming log.

The 34-year-old's body was discovered on a bonfire by fire crews attending the Guy Fawkes night blaze in Birkenhead, Merseyside.

Mr Croft had suffered head injuries and severe burns.

Three male teenagers aged 13, 17 and 19 are being held in connection with his death.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: "We are not confirming or denying these reports. We are still conducting interviews.

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http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1291818,00.html

From wiki:

“Happy slapping is a fad in which an unsuspecting victim is attacked while an accomplice records the assault (commonly with a camera phone or a smartphone). The name can refer to any type of violent assault, not just slapping, even rape and sexual assaults have been classified as “happy slapping” by the media.<1> Within the United Kingdom, where the term is used most frequently, it is associated with the ned/chav sub-culture. Happy slapping filming attacks seem to be common in modern bullying, and not unique to happy slapping. The core defining feature of happy slapping is an effort by the attacker to make the assault seem like play, though some happy slappers have indulged in extreme violence."

There's been a rash of "happy slapping" crimes in GB, it seems.

Our unhappy legacy to the world...

Aren't there some islands up in the Orkneys that would be a good place for this? Send them up there and let them slap to their heart's content!