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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Man United fans jailed in Italy | Man United fans jailed in Italy |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Four Manchester United fans have been jailed for their part in a fight with Roma fans in Italy. | 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 six months. | Kyle Dillon, 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, 39, were each sentenced to two years and six months. |
| Nicholas Lucas, 18, and Michael Burk, 35, from Little Hulton, Salford, were jailed for two years and five months. | Nicholas Lucas, 18, and Michael Burk, 35, from Little Hulton, Salford, were jailed for two years and five 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. | 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 | 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 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. | 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. |
| Dillon and the others were identified by Greater Manchester Police | Dillon and the others were identified by Greater Manchester Police |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 'Abbreviated' trial |
| Dillon, Wimmer, Lucas and Burk appeared in court in Rome in an "abbreviated" trial in front of three magistrates. | 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. | 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 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 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. | 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. | 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. | Scuffles also broke out outside Old Trafford during the second leg of that tie a week later, with 21 people arrested. |