Eleven men appear in court charged over football fan's death
Simon Dobbin was left permanently brain damaged after being attacked whilst watching his team Cambridge United play in Southend
Eleven men have appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of a football fan in Southend, who was left permanently brain damaged by an attack on his way home from a match in 2015 and died five years later.
Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin was assaulted in March 2015 after watching his team play Southend United.
The 11 men – aged from 29 to 49 years old and all from Essex – sat side-by-side in the dock when they appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
They are each charged with manslaughter on October 21 2020 – the date that Mr Dobbin died, aged 48.
Each defendant stood up in turn to confirm their personal details in a process that took six minutes. No pleas were taken.
Some of Mr Dobbin’s relatives were sitting in the packed public gallery at the back of the court.
The men in the dock were: Greg Allen, 37, of Westcliff-on-Sea; Jamie Chambers, 33, of Southend-on-Sea; Lewis Courtnell, 43, of Leigh-on-Sea; Philip McGill, 41, of Westcliff-on-Sea; and Scott Nicholls, 49, of Basildon.
Their co-defendants Matthew Petchey, 35, of of Westcliff-on-Sea; Rhys Pullen, 29, of Maldon; Thomas Randall, 31, of Leigh-on-Sea; Michael Shawyer, 40, of Leigh-on-Sea; plus Alexander Woods, 34, and James Woods, 34, who are both of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, also appeared at the hearing.
Deputy district judge Natalie Plant released each defendant on unconditional bail ahead of their pre-trial and preparation hearing at Basildon Crown Court on May 1.
Violence had flared outside the Railway Tavern pub in Southend in March 2015.
Former RAF serviceman Mr Dobbin was working as a transport manager for a fuel company before the attack.
The married father’s family provided him with 24-hour care at home in Mildenhall, Suffolk, until his death.
Another man: Ryan Carter, 40, of HMP The Mount; is set to be dealt with later on Tuesday.