Home / Crime and Justice / 12 Men to Face Trial Over Fatal Football Match Attack
12 Men to Face Trial Over Fatal Football Match Attack
14 May
Summary
- Twelve men are facing manslaughter charges over a 2015 football match assault.
- The victim suffered catastrophic brain injuries, leaving him unable to walk or talk.
- A provisional trial date is set for April 5, 2027, over a decade later.
Twelve men, aged 29 to 49 and all from Essex, are set to stand trial for manslaughter in connection with the death of Simon Dobbin. The father-of-three suffered catastrophic brain injuries during an alleged assault following a football match between Cambridge United FC and Southend United F.C. in March 2015. Prosecutors allege Dobbin was repeatedly kicked and stamped on during a violent incident, despite reportedly not being involved in prior disorder.
The attack, which occurred more than a decade ago, left Mr. Dobbin permanently unable to walk or talk. He passed away in October 2020. His wife, Nicole, who became his full-time carer, attended the recent hearing at Basildon Crown Court. A provisional trial date has been scheduled for April 5, 2027.
In 2017, the Dobbin family appeared on the television show DIY SOS when volunteers renovated their home to meet his complex medical needs. Following his death, his wife fondly remembered him as her "gentle giant" who had "fought so very hard." The investigation into the incident has been described as extremely complex.
