Police have issued a fresh appeal for information into the death of a man killed by a single punch at Parklife festival a decade ago.
There's a £50,000 reward offered for information leading to the conviction of the "unknown male assailant" who attacked Robert Hart at the Heaton Park music festival on Saturday, June 7, 2014.
The 29-year-old had stepped in to protect his girlfriend, who was being hit with an inflatable toy, it was previously revealed. He died a few days later after his injuries proved fatal, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Robert's killer has never been traced. As the 10th anniversary of his death approaches, detectives have today issued a fresh appeal for information about his death. Police are offering a £50,000 reward in a desperate bid to track down the man responsible. The reward 'is payable for information that leads to charge and conviction'.
This photo shows the area of Parklife where the attack is believed to have happened (GMP)Detective Inspector Madeline Kelly, from GMP's Major Crime Review Team, urged people to 'dig deep into their consciences' and come forward with anything that may help the investigation. Officers are taking a 'fresh look' at the evidence, she added.
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Det Insp Kelly said: "Even though this terrible incident was almost 10 years ago, it will still be fresh in the minds of many people, especially Robert's family and people who were at Parklife. Despite the passing of time, the heartache felt by Robert's family has not faded. Just as we were in 2014, we are determined to catch the person responsible which is why we are taking a fresh look at the evidence and appealing for the assistance of the public. We are appealing for people to dig deep into their consciences if you were one of the people involved on the day we would urge you to come forward."
"No-one went to the festival that weekend with thoughts of violence. Allegiances and friendships will have changed so if anyone has any information they can report it to police in confidence, particularly if they feel they could not before. We are also asking for people at Parklife on Saturday 7 June 2014 to share their photos and videos with us especially people who were around the main stage at around 9pm just after Rudimental had finished their set and before Snoop Dogg was due on."
He was 29 when he died (No credit)
Robert and his girlfriend Gemma Parry at the Parklife Weekender at Heaton Park (No credit)Robert's mum Elaine has offered her support to the fresh appeal, as she tragically told how her son, from Macclesfield, 'should be here'. She said: "Robert loved music and played his guitar all the time music was the reason he went to Parklife. He didn't go to Parklife for anything other than for his love of music. I visit him every week in Macclesfield Cemetery he shouldn't be there, he should be here, enjoying and living his life to the full with a family of his own."
Robert would have turned 36 this year. The former Fallibroome pupil was one of four children. Elaine previously described her son as the 'perfect gentleman' to the Manchester Evening News. She said: "We will always be devastated at the loss of Rob. He was one of four children, two girls and two boys, who were all the best of friends."
"We still don't understand why this happened to such a gentleman, he was so funny and well liked by everyone, no-one had a bad word to say about him. In our heads we will never come to terms with why there was a need for such a forceful punch. Robert wasn't aggressive and the attack was totally unprovoked, he had his hands by his side."
She added: "The man who killed my son went somewhere that night, he walked away and he woke up somewhere the next morning. Someone knows where and who he is. Someone must have spoken to him. He is guilty of taking our Robert's life in an unprovoked attack."
In 2015, a coroner ruled that medical failings were partly to blame for Robert's death. Coroner Nigel Meadows ruled he was 'unlawfully killed' but added that failures in medical care, including the misinterpretation of a CT scan revealing a serious head injury, also contributed to his death.
Mr Meadows said: "The deceased was unlawfully killed, but there was a failure to provide timely and appropriate access to advice from either a neurosurgical specialist registrar or an on-call consultant, and a significant failure to adequately and appropriately interpret the CT images, which contributed to the death but such did not amount to a new intervening act."
Robert's attacker is described as being mixed raced and aged in his mid-20s at the time in 2014. Police said he was around 6ft to 6ft 2in tall and of muscular build. Officers believe he had short, dark hair which was shaved at the sides. He may have been with several people including an 'unknown woman'. She was white and aged in her mid-20s. She was possibly wearing a pink t-shirt, had blonde, shoulder-length hair and was around 5ft 7in tall.
Detectives have set up a Major Incident Public Portal where photos and videos can be uploaded. The link for the portal can be found here. Information can also be sent via a dedicated email address - HelpBobby@gmp.police.uk.
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