We find the men accused of beating footballer (From Your Local Guardian)

We find the men accused of beating footballer

9:56am Thursday 9th October 2008 in

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The men accused of beating footballer Robert Hughes into a coma have been tracked down by our reporters.

We can reveal the five men, all in their early 20s, live in Horley, Surrey – just a 20-mile drive from the Hughes’ family home in Wallington.

The men remain free from prosecution after a legal loophole allowed them to leave Malia in Crete, where 28-year-old Robert was attacked.

It took four lifesaving operations following the assault on June 17, before Mr Hughes, a former Sutton United footballer, could return home.

British police claim they are unable to act in this case because the crime is not in their jurisdiction and no request for assistance has been made by the Greek authorities.

But this week the Greek ambassador in London opened up channels enabling the British police to help the investigation following a meeting with Wallington MP Tom Brake.

Mr Brake said: "It is open to the UK police, if they have concrete evidence that can assist a case in Greece, to approach the Greek police to offer assistance.

"Clearly this would need to be on the basis that an identified person had witnessed the assault or held other evidence they wished to disclose.

"I am assured that such an approach is likely to be viewed positively by the Greek police."

Mr Hughes mother Maggie said an independent English witness had come forward since the attack and they had passed this information on to a liaison officer at Sutton police station.

She said: "I’m sure the British police will take up the offer and communicate with the Greek police.

"It will help Robert’s case abroad, but what I want to know is why has it taken so long? All I want is justice for my son." Mrs Hughes said she had launched an online petition to call on the British Government to put pressure on the Greek government.

This newspaper has the names and addresses of all five men who were questioned by Greek police for the official offence of physical assault causing serious injuries.

Two days after the sickening assault, the men were stopped on the beach by police after being allegedly recognised by Robert’s friends.

But under Greek law, as the men had not been arrested within 48 hours they could not be held by police and were allowed to return home to Surrey.

None of the five men were available for comment.

Foreign Office spokesman Matt Costain said: "If the family and their legal team do have concerns that the Greek police are taking longer than expected, or deviating from the law of the country, they should contact us.

"Hypothetically the Foreign Office can then consider making representations." A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "While we sympathise with their position, we have no jurisdiction to conduct inquiries into a criminal offence committed in a foreign country, and unless the Greek authorities request our assistance in their investigation into the incident we are unable to intervene."