our Manchester United fans sentenced to more than two years in prison in Italy have been released on appeal.
Richard Wimmer, Michael Buerk, Kyle Dillon and Nicholas Lucas were jailed in December for their part in a fight with Roma fans after a match.
At a hearing in Italy they pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, in return for early release.
Kyle Dillon's mother, Janet, said the families were relieved and now just wanted to get them home.
Kyle Dillon, 23, Richard Wimmer, 39, Nicholas Lucas, 18 and Michael Burk, 35, all from Greater Manchester, were jailed in December over the fight prior to a Champions League tie.
They were all charged with violent behaviour and resisting arrest.
Their families had previously said they only admitted the charges because they did not understand their interpreter.
Police said the four were part of a group of Manchester United supporters travelling to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 12 December but became separated and clashed with rival fans.
Showing posts with label BBC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC. Show all posts
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Thursday, 27 December 2007
Fans to stay in jail until appeal
BBC
Four Manchester United fans jailed for their part in a fight with Roma fans are to remain in prison in Italy while they wait for their appeal hearing.
Five United fans were stabbed in a fight between rival fans before the Champions League match in Rome on Wednesday, 12 December.
Four supporters were jailed but had hoped to be allowed to return home before their appeal could be heard.
The Foreign Office said they would now remain in jail until their appeal.
A date for the appeal hearing has not yet been set.
'Violent behaviour'
The four men were formally charged with violent behaviour and resisting arrest.
None of the stabbed fans suffered serious injuries.
The judges presiding in the case met in Rome on Christmas Eve, but their decision was not known until Thursday.
Kyle Dillon, 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, 39, were each sentenced to two years and five months.
Nicholas Lucas, 18, and Michael Burk, 35, from Little Hulton, Salford, were jailed for two years and four months.
Four Manchester United fans jailed for their part in a fight with Roma fans are to remain in prison in Italy while they wait for their appeal hearing.
Five United fans were stabbed in a fight between rival fans before the Champions League match in Rome on Wednesday, 12 December.
Four supporters were jailed but had hoped to be allowed to return home before their appeal could be heard.
The Foreign Office said they would now remain in jail until their appeal.
A date for the appeal hearing has not yet been set.
'Violent behaviour'
The four men were formally charged with violent behaviour and resisting arrest.
None of the stabbed fans suffered serious injuries.
The judges presiding in the case met in Rome on Christmas Eve, but their decision was not known until Thursday.
Kyle Dillon, 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, 39, were each sentenced to two years and five months.
Nicholas Lucas, 18, and Michael Burk, 35, from Little Hulton, Salford, were jailed for two years and four months.
Friday, 21 December 2007
Man United fans jailed in Italy
BBC
Four Manchester United fans have been jailed for their part in a fight with Roma fans in Italy.
Kyle Dillon, 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, 39, were each sentenced to two years and five months.
Nicholas Lucas, 18, and Michael Burk, 35, from Little Hulton, Salford, were jailed for two years and four months.
The British Embassy said in the past sentences had been suspended, but there was no guarantee of this and all four were likely to spend Christmas in jail.
According to police, the four Manchester United supporters were part of a group which broke away from other fans travelling to the Champions League game in Rome on 12 December.
Notorious hangout
The police said they made for the River Bar, said to be a notorious hangout for the Roma Ultras, where fighting broke out with bottles and chairs being thrown.
The four men, who were dressed in black with scarves wrapped around their faces, were all identified by Greater Manchester Police spotters outside the ground.
However, Dillon's mother, Janet, who attended the court hearing with character references and medical statements declaring that her son is partially-sighted, claims he was an innocent man who had got caught up in the violence.
"My son is not a thug, he's not a hooligan, he's not a member of a gang," she said.
Five United fans were stabbed during skirmishes between rival fans on the Wednesday evening.
The violence flared at the Pont Duca d'Aosta bridge, the scene of previous clashes between visiting fans and Roma's Ultras.
Police used two baton charges to disperse the fans during the violence, which was the latest in a series of clashes between supporters of the two clubs.
'Abbreviated' trial
Dillon, Wimmer, Lucas and Burk appeared in court in Rome in an "abbreviated" trial in front of three magistrates.
No oral evidence is given in such trials.
The decision is made by the court on the basis of documents and video put forward in the preliminary investigation by the public prosecutor.
The accused also give up their right to cross examination, but their decision to appear in an abbreviated trial means their sentences are reduced by a third.
The last time Manchester United and AS Roma met in April, 11 fans were taken to hospital after supporters were beaten by riot police inside the stadium.
Three United supporters were also stabbed outside the ground.
Scuffles also broke out outside Old Trafford during the second leg of that tie a week later, with 21 people arrested.
Four Manchester United fans have been jailed for their part in a fight with Roma fans in Italy.
Kyle Dillon, 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, 39, were each sentenced to two years and five months.
Nicholas Lucas, 18, and Michael Burk, 35, from Little Hulton, Salford, were jailed for two years and four months.
The British Embassy said in the past sentences had been suspended, but there was no guarantee of this and all four were likely to spend Christmas in jail.
According to police, the four Manchester United supporters were part of a group which broke away from other fans travelling to the Champions League game in Rome on 12 December.
Notorious hangout
The police said they made for the River Bar, said to be a notorious hangout for the Roma Ultras, where fighting broke out with bottles and chairs being thrown.
The four men, who were dressed in black with scarves wrapped around their faces, were all identified by Greater Manchester Police spotters outside the ground.
However, Dillon's mother, Janet, who attended the court hearing with character references and medical statements declaring that her son is partially-sighted, claims he was an innocent man who had got caught up in the violence.
"My son is not a thug, he's not a hooligan, he's not a member of a gang," she said.
Five United fans were stabbed during skirmishes between rival fans on the Wednesday evening.
The violence flared at the Pont Duca d'Aosta bridge, the scene of previous clashes between visiting fans and Roma's Ultras.
Police used two baton charges to disperse the fans during the violence, which was the latest in a series of clashes between supporters of the two clubs.
'Abbreviated' trial
Dillon, Wimmer, Lucas and Burk appeared in court in Rome in an "abbreviated" trial in front of three magistrates.
No oral evidence is given in such trials.
The decision is made by the court on the basis of documents and video put forward in the preliminary investigation by the public prosecutor.
The accused also give up their right to cross examination, but their decision to appear in an abbreviated trial means their sentences are reduced by a third.
The last time Manchester United and AS Roma met in April, 11 fans were taken to hospital after supporters were beaten by riot police inside the stadium.
Three United supporters were also stabbed outside the ground.
Scuffles also broke out outside Old Trafford during the second leg of that tie a week later, with 21 people arrested.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)