THE BROTHER of Irish Liverpool fan Sean Cox, who was attacked outside Anfield in April, has said he was kicked as he tried to help his sibling.
Martin Cox was giving evidence at the trial of Filippo Lombardi, 21, in relation to the attack on Sean Cox ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final first-leg clash with Roma.
Lombardi has admitted violent disorder but denies wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm.
According to BBC News, Martin Cox said he sensed something wasn’t right before they were confronted by people dressed in black, chanting.
He told Preston Crown Court: “I turned to Sean as if to say ‘Let’s get out of here’. But as I turned, Sean was lying on the ground.”
He added: “I just froze for a second, just in complete shock. My next instinct was to go straight down to Sean to see if he was OK.
Liverpool have continued to show their support for Sean Cox (Image: Getty)“I bent down to Sean and, as I was bent over, I could feel a kick on the back and I lost balance, stumbled a bit, but I didn’t look up, I just gathered myself around Sean.”
The court previously heard Mr Cox had fallen to the ground after being punched by a man who has been referred to during proceedings as N40.
It is alleged that Lombardi ‘lashed out’ with a belt at Sean Cox as he fell, but it is not clear whether the belt made contact.
The incident happened around 7pm, with the brothers having travelled from Ireland on the morning the game.
Martin Cox added that his brother is no longer able to talk above a whisper.
In August, Daniele Sciusco, 29, admitted violent disorder in relation to the incident and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Meanwhile this week a 30-year-old man was arrested in Rome on suspicion of causing assault in relation to the incident and is due to be extradited.
