Full Breakdown
Fatal Stabbing of Derby DJ Dale Martin and the Sentencing of Six Men
By Drooid · · How we work
The Attack on Stenson Road
On the night of June 15, 2025, six masked men pursued 21-year-old Dale Martin on Stenson Road in Derby. After smashing the windows of his car, they chanted “kill him, kill him” and stabbed him nearly a dozen times, the fatal wound to the chest. Martin sought help from nearby residents and survived until emergency services arrived, but he died in the early hours of June 16.
Social-Media Mobilisation and Rivalry
The assault was linked to a series of “tit-for-tat” incidents between two rival groups. A car driven past one defendant’s address prompted the mobilisation of the gang via Snapchat, where the group gathered on Stenson Road. The coordinated nature of the attack was highlighted by the use of the messaging platform to rally participants.
Sentencing of the Six Defendants
Judge Gregory Dickinson KC delivered the sentences in a Derby court:
- Manion-Roberts (26, Allenton) – convicted of murder after CCTV identification; life imprisonment with a minimum term of 27 years, plus concurrent terms for cannabis possession and for crack-cocaine and heroin possession.
- Grant-Finlayson (23, Spondon) – 18 years imprisonment with a three-year extended licence. He organised the group via Snapchat and, after the stabbing, booked a flight to Tunisia.
- Holmes (25, Osmaston) – 15 years imprisonment.
- Thompson (19, Osmaston) – 10 years in a youth offenders’ institution.
- Two additional participants, unnamed, received concurrent custodial terms consistent with the above.
All sentences are to be served concurrently. The judge noted the defendants’ extensive prior convictions for drug trafficking, knife possession, assault and arson.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Dale Martin, 21.
- Attackers: Six masked men.
- Stab wounds: Approximately twelve, lethal wound to the chest.
- Sentences: Life with 27-year minimum (Manion-Roberts); 18 years (Grant-Finlayson); 15 years (Holmes); 10 years (Thompson).
- Prior convictions: Multiple drug-trafficking offences for Manion-Roberts; four knife-related convictions for Grant-Finlayson; assorted violent offences for the others.
Official Statements & Responses
Judge Dickinson described Martin as a young man whose life “was still ahead of him” and stressed that no verdict could reverse the loss. He highlighted Grant-Finlayson’s use of Snapchat to incite the attack and his attempt to flee the country, noting the defendant’s responsibilities as a father. The court extended condolences to Martin’s family, emphasizing the “real-life” nature of the crime.
Verbatim Quote
- “Dale Martin was aged 21 and, like you, most of his life was still ahead of him.” — Judge Dickinson
Timeline
- June 15, 2025 (pre-midnight): Attack on Stenson Road.
- June 16: Martin dies from stab wounds.
- Subsequent weeks: Trial concludes; CCTV identifies Manion-Roberts; Snapchat messages presented as evidence.
- Sentencing date (unspecified): Judge Dickinson imposes custodial terms on all six defendants.