Youth Jailed For Sadistic Bullying (Press, 16 July 1988)

On 16 July 1988, a youth named Doc Maru Cooper was sentenced to four years and two months in prison by Mr Justice Williamson at the High Court for a series of brutal and sexual offences. Cooper was convicted by a jury on multiple charges that included six charges of sexual violation involving two men, one charge of sexual violation involving himself and another man, and one charge of indecent assault on a male. During the trial, disturbing evidence was presented that highlighted the extreme measures Cooper took to humiliate his victims, including forcing two men to engage in sexual acts with each other and inflicting physical harm by pushing matches into the head of one victim’s penis and setting them alight. The offences took place at a night shelter for men operated by the Anglican City Mission in Hereford Street. Cooper was portrayed as the mastermind behind a "homosexual orgy of sordid indecencies." Mr Justice Williamson indicated that the maximum sentence for the sexual violation charges could be up to 14 years, while the indecent assault charge carried a potential five-year sentence. The judge noted that the victims were vulnerable, being described as mentally slow and timid, which amplified the seriousness of Cooper's actions. Cooper, who had been unemployed since November of the previous year, had a troubling childhood characterized by violence from an alcoholic father. He had spent time in health camps and faced disciplinary issues since the age of 12, leading to placements in a training centre and a boys’ home. His previous legal troubles were mainly for theft, although he was awaiting sentencing for another charge at the time of the trial. In a related incident in March, Cooper sustained a depressed skull fracture requiring hospitalisation for 12 days, but a psychiatrist confirmed he did not have any mental impairment resulting from the injury. Mr Justice Williamson acknowledged that while the offences occurred over a brief period, they necessitated a substantial sentence due to their severity; however, he considered Cooper's age, his time in custody since April, and his previous record when determining the final sentence. The defence, represented by Mr Erno Bedo, expressed the gravity of Cooper's actions while also highlighting the brief duration of the offences. He pointed out the significant emotional distress inflicted on the victims, which was elaborated on in the victim impact report. The judge was reminded of the mandatory nature of imprisonment for sexual violation charges, barring extraordinary circumstances, and the fact that Cooper had no prior sexual offences on his record. Bedo commented on Cooper's youth, stressing that he was just 17 years old and now facing imprisonment due to a period of aberrant conduct, casting a shadow over his transition into adult life.

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