Family of murder victim "grateful for support"

Beverly Clark said she had been touched by the response since her son Karl Swift, from Greasbrough, was attacked in the West Midlands on September 9.

Mrs Clark led the mourners at Mr Swift’s funeral at Rotherham Crematorium on Friday, where members of Kimberworth-based Plough FC wore club tracksuit tops in tribute to their former team-mate.

Previously, they have organised a charity football match to raise funds for his family, while the proceeds from a competition at Wath Golf Club last month were also donated to them.

Plough manager Gareth Petch described him as “a brilliant lad who was respected by every member of The Plough team”.

Mrs Clark, of Kimberworth, said: “We are so grateful for everyone’s support, not just his friends and club-mates but also strangers who have stopped to say something.

“I wanted to say thank you from the family to everyone who has joined in with the fund-raising.

“Everyone has rallied round us and the community has been magnificent.

“Karl was just a family man who loved his two boys so much.

“He lived life to the full and was such a kind and generous person.”

Mrs Clark said her son’s death was “still very raw”, adding: “He was just going to work and doing his job when tragedy happened.”

Three men have been charged over Mr Swift’s killing in Halesowen almost three months ago.

Dean Hartley (30) of Burnaby Crescent, Sheffield, has been charged with Mr Swift’s manslaughter and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He denied the charges when he appeared before Wolverhampton Crown Court by video link on November 18 and was remanded in custody.

He is due to stand trial at the same court on April 18 next year.

Hartley’s father, also called Dean Hartley (51), of Chaucer Road, Sheffield, and Lee Ardron (29), of Broad Inge Crescent, Sheffield, are both charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice. They were bailed to appear in court at a later date.