The trial of the two defendants accused of the manslaughter of Abdi Dorre has been delayed today at Leicester Crown Court.
The two defendants had sought to present an application to dismiss both cases, though this has now been delayed until early December 2002 to allow more time for their lawyers to present written arguments. It is now unlikely that the trial will begin this year.
This delay will continue the suffering faced by the family of Abdi Dorre since his death in August 2000. The NCRM and Abdi Dorre family campaign urge supporters to help them over the coming months.
Background
Abdi Dorre, an asylum seeker from Somalia, died on 11 August 2000, after falling down 16 concrete steps in a Milton Keynes nightclub.
Despite evidence to suggest Mr Dorre might have been pushed down the stairs – he had been captured on CCTV arguing with two bouncers moments before he died – and one person had named the person who had pushed him over 20 times to the police – no proceedings were initially bought by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Initially, the CPS refused to bring charges, telling Mr Dorre’s family as long ago as October 2000 there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to mount a prosecution. Relatives, convinced the investigation into Mr Dorre’s death had been given a low priority because of his status as a refugee, were undeterred. After pressure from Mr Dorre’s family and a series of demonstrations in Northampton, the CPS decided in February to take a second look at the case. In August 2002, the CPS announced charges were now being brought against two men, after taking advice from a senior independent barrister from outside Northamptonshire. Subsequently, two men were charged with the manslaughter of Abdi Dorre.