Three men have been found guilty of killing Rotherham man Daniel Dix

Mr Dix, 38, was left critically injured following an assault on Bridgegate, Rotherham on the afternoon of Saturday 9 March 2019. He sadly died from his injuries in hospital a week later.

Kyle Beech, 26, of Landsbury Avenue, Maltby; Brock Playforth, 25, of Ambleside Walk, North Anston; and Liam Green, 22, of Rotherham Road, Maltby, have been on trial at Sheffield Crown Court for the past three weeks.

Earlier today (Thursday 19 March), all three were found guilty of manslaughter.

Playforth was also found guilty of assault on a second victim and attempted grievous bodily harm. Beech was also convicted of affray.

All three have been remanded into custody and will be sentenced next week along with four other men.

Corey Andrews, 25, of Tickhill Road, Maltby; Sam Anscombe, 28, of Walesby Lane, Ollerton; Brady Stoner, 23, of Nelson Road, Maltby; and Josh Simpson, 24, of Everson Close, Maltby all pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing on 20 September 2019.

Detective Chief Inspector Jude Ashmore said: “My thoughts are first and foremost with Mr Dix’s family and friends, who have lost a loved one in such tragic circumstances.

“The incident took place following a football match between Sheffield United and Rotherham United at Bramall Lane on Saturday 9 March 2019. The match ended at 2pm and both sets of fans began to make their way home.

“Later that afternoon at Bridgegate in Rotherham town centre, a fight broke out between two groups men.”

Following the incident, an extensive amount of CCTV footage was analysed.

DCI Ashmore added: “The footage shows a group of men, including Mr Dix, walk towards a second group of men. Following a conversation between the two groups, Mr Dix is seen to move into the middle of the road.

“Playforth then appears to instigate the incident by running into the two groups, making Mr Dix move away from the crowd.

“At 4.40pm Mr Dix was punched by Beech and fell to the floor. He sadly never regained consciousness.

“While Mr Dix lay injured and unconscious on the floor, Playforth can be seen to run towards him and put his foot towards his head. He had to be pushed away and restrained by others. Green then kicks the victim in the mid-section of his body while he is on the floor.”

DCI Ashmore said: “The actions of Beech, Playforth and Green that afternoon have robbed a family of a son and a brother, and a young girl of her father.”

Mr Dix’s family has released the following statement:

“Danny meant a lot to everyone. He was a big part of the family and everyone made a beeline for him to listen to his funny stories and banter.

“Each day we are in a constant spiral of loss and sadness. We all think about him every minute of every day. We just can’t explain the loneliness – it’s difficult to put into words.

“Just recently Danny was awarded the Order of St John UK Medal for Organ Donation. He has saved four lives.”