• Home
  • /
  • Football
  • /
  • Roma Fan Sentenced To Three Years But Found Not Guilty Of Causing Grievous Bodily Harm To Sean Cox

Roma Fan Sentenced To Three Years But Found Not Guilty Of Causing Grievous Bodily Harm To Sean Cox

Roma Fan Sentenced To Three Years But Found Not Guilty Of Causing Grievous Bodily Harm To Sean Cox
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
Share this article

The Roma supporter who was on trial for the assault of Meath man Sean Cox has been sentenced to three years in prison, despite being found not guilty of grievous bodily harm.

Filippo Lombardi (21) was not found not guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the 53-year-old Irishman. After a nine hour deliberation, the jury came back with a majority decision clearing the Italian of the charge.

However, he was sentenced to the three year prison term after pleading guilty to a separate charge of violent disorder.

He was sentenced at Preston Crown Court today.

Mr. Lombardi pleaded 'not guilty' to the attack on the 53-year-old Irishman, which occurred outside Anfield ahead of the Champions League clash of Liverpool and Roma on April 26th.

The prosecution in the case had claimed that Mr. Lombardi lashed out at Mr. Cox with a belt, after another man had knocked him to the ground with a punch.

Recommended

Mr. Lombardi claimed that he had wrapped his belt around his hand to "protect himself" from "aggressive" Liverpool fans. He told the court, "I saw a few Liverpool fans who started to tell me something. They weren’t friendly and for that reason I understand, it could be a dangerous situation so I took off my belt and wrapped it around my hand."

Advertisement

He demonstrated to the jury how he swung his belt in a sidewards motion, adding, "I saw Sean Cox at the end of my movement, he was lying on the ground, this is the first time that I saw him."

Judge Mark Brown, who sentenced Lombardi for violent disorder did not accept his version of events.

Sean Cox suffered a severe and traumatic brain injury on the night in question, spending five weeks at a specialist neurological centre in Liverpool as a result.

Advertisement

He is still unable to speak or sit up unaided, and is currently undergoing further treatment in Ireland.

In August, another Italian man, Daniel Sciusco (29), received a two-and-a-half year sentence for violent disorder for his involvement in the incident.

SEE ALSO: 'A Big Problem'- Brady And Dunphy Have One Big Criticism Of O'Neill's Management

 

Join The Monday Club Have a tip or something brilliant you wanted to share on? We're looking for loyal Balls readers free-to-join members club where top tipsters can win prizes and Balls merchandise

Processing your request...

You are now subscribed!

Share this article

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com

Advertisement