Father Describes Murder Trial of Son, Attacked by Acquaintances, as 'Hell'
One man received a life sentence for the 2025 murder of Dale Martin, who was fatally attacked by a group including individuals known to him since childhood.
The father of Dale Martin, who was fatally attacked by an armed gang in June 2025, has described the trial following his son's death as "hell." Martin, also known as DJ, was dragged from a car in Derby and repeatedly stabbed and slashed.
On Friday, one man was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years for the murder. Five other men, found guilty of manslaughter after a trial lasting over four months, were also jailed.
Speaking after the sentencing, the victim's father, Dale Martin, expressed his pain that some of his son's killers had attended the same school as DJ and had visited their home for meals as children. "That hurts, it hurts a lot," he said.
He described the conclusion of the court proceedings as bringing a sense of "relief," though he acknowledged that true normality would never be restored. "It'll never come to normality because DJ's not there," he stated, adding that his son remains in their thoughts and hearts.
The court in Loughborough heard that the attack stemmed from years of "animosity" between two rival groups, with two "tit for tat" confrontations occurring earlier that weekend. Martin was attacked near a pub where he had been attending a gender-reveal party.
Prosecutors told the trial that the attackers had armed themselves with swords, machetes, and knives. The group allegedly used electric bikes to block the road, causing the car Martin was traveling in to swerve and stall before ambushing him. Martin was pulled from the car through a smashed window, initially managed to escape, but then fell. A witness told the court that his attackers descended upon him "like a pack of animals."
Dale Martin called the murder over a "tit for tat" incident "horrible," remembering his son as a "lovely lad" with a "heart of gold" who was devoted to his family.
Judge Gregory Dickinson KC sentenced Jayden Mannion-Roberts, 26, to life with a minimum of 27 years for the murder. Ki Grant-Finlayson, 23, received an 18-year sentence for his "leading role" in the ambush. Keenan Hamblett, 27, was sentenced to 17 and a half years, and Shaylon McCalla, 27, received 18 years. Grant-Finlayson and Hamblett were arrested at Gatwick Airport with approximately £3,000 each in cash while attempting to fly out of the country following the attack.
"Enthusiastic participants" Kayin Holmes, 25, received 15 years, and Kelci Thompson, 19, was sentenced to 10 years in a young offenders institution.
Dale's younger sister shared that the 21-year-old was a significant part of her life, and their bond had strengthened in the period before his death. "I spent most of my time with him, and it's just hard not having him here," she said.