Man charged with manslaughter 13 years after Swindon assault
Sam Rees suffered a major head injury during the incident in April 2013 and needed full time care before his death in December 2023
Last updated 27th Apr 2026
A man has been charged with manslaughter after an assault in Swindon 13 years ago.
On 1st April 2013, Sam Rees, then aged 27, was assaulted in the Old Town area of Swindon,
He sustained a significant head injury that left him requiring full time care.
Abuzer Erdem, 40, of Ferndale Road, Swindon, was later jailed for 12 months for inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Wiltshire Police say following Sam's death in December 2023 they reopened their investigation and Erdem has now been charged with manslaughter.
He has been released on conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on 26th May.
Det Con Jemma Humphreys, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, has been conducting the investigation into manslaughter.
“This is a tragic case of a young man who suffered significant injuries following an assault in Swindon and tragically died 10 years later," she said.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to remind the public of the dangers of night-time economy fuelled violence. Please consider the consequences of your actions, and always stop, think and walk away.”