I like reading your contributions to SZ, Andy. However, on this occasion (and during this thread), I just don't feel you have got it right. SD was brutally assaulted that evening. Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies that.
Some posters have tried to blame the Cambridge thugs earlier in the day, some have tried to blame the police, some have tried to blame the jury. That is just a distraction from the real issue.
It is a great shame this thread did not turn into a way of Southend fans unanimously showing their anger at what happened to SD and offering sympathy to his family. That way, we might have been able to claw back some of the dignity and respect we, as a club and fans, have lost during this period.
Thank you for the kind words 'WCRC'.
In fairness, I have never felt or said that I am anything other than appalled by what happened to him. I don't think anyone feels any different to that. I have said my piece on how awful the whole tragedy is on previous threads and on this thread, as well. Nothing will ever change my view on the fact that this is an appalling crime.
The thread, however, is about the verdicts and prison sentences handed down to the defendants and my concern, as outlined in my last post, is that if people are going to serve lengthy sentences for 'conspiracy' then the net is wider, on the day, than just those convicted.
In a Utopian society, I'd like the thugs who committed the assault to serve very lengthy sentences and anyone not involved to be considered as such. In a way, by staying collective as defendants, they each signed their own fate.
Where I sit uneasily is that if they are convicted for 'conspiracy' to cause general violence during the day, then others should have been, as well. If the convictions are for 'conspiracy' to attack Simon Dobbin in particular, then that's a different matter.
I don't like our club being dragged through this anymore than anyone else. If anything, by saying that other people indirectly contributed to this, I feel I am attempting to show that our club are not only intolerant of this behavior from those involved, but any behavior from others on a matchday, which drags us into this.
No-one has been convicted from Cambridge for 'conspiracy to commit violent disorder' yet without their behavior, none of this would have happened.
That doesn't condone any actions directly against Simon Dobbin. Those people should be convicted of the awful attack and serve appropriate sentences.