Leicester: 'Somebody knows something about my son's death'

The mum of a man who died after being attacked by a group of men has made a plea for information six months on.

Matthew Schofield, 34, was found dead in Belgrave Road, Leicester, after the assault shortly before 03:00 BST on 11 June.

Leicestershire Police has since arrested 14 people, but no-one has been charged.

His mother, Emma Daniels, says she "can't stop the feeling of panic" knowing she will never see him again.

Detectives are making another appeal for information about the attack, half a year after Mr Schofield was found with fatal injuries in the city.

Police initially said Mr Schofield's death was "unexplained" but later concluded he had been assaulted.

Ms Daniels says it is believed he was assaulted more than an hour before his body was found.

She says her son's death has left her feeling "devastated" and in a "constant state of panic".

"It's been six months since Matt died and although I am going to work and trying to do normal things, I can't stop the feeling of panic I get every time it hits me that I will never get to see him again," she said.

"The gravity of his death and the circumstances of how he died bring so many emotions - anger, devastation, panic and fear - but the worst is a constant feeling of numbness that I just can't shake.

"What I don't understand is that Matt was there on his own for an hour and a half - nobody bothered.

"Nobody thought 'let's get him some help, let him have the luxury of somebody holding his hand while he dies'.

"I know somebody knows something and it just takes one good person to anonymously phone in and say what happened."

Detectives have released CCTV and bodyworn footage of Mr Schofield on his bike going to a nearby garage about an hour and a half before the assault occurred, in a bid to refresh people's memory.

Both videos show what he was wearing at the time of the attack.

Although the assault took place in the early hours of the morning, police believe there may have been people in the area, possibly making their way home after a night out in the city centre.

Det Insp Mark Parish, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) murder investigation team, said: "I know it might be difficult to remember events from six months ago but I am hoping releasing the footage of Matthew from the hours before he died might help to jog people's memory.

"There may also be people who know what happened that night but have chosen not to speak to police.

"It is not too late to come forward and tell us what you know. This can be done anonymously if you do not want to speak directly to police."

Of the 14 people who have been arrested, 10 currently remain on police bail, one person has been released under investigation and three were released with no further action.

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