Ex-Take That boss offers reward for gay club attack
The owner of a nightclub is offering up a £5,000 reward for information about a vicious homophobic murder in Manchester’s gay village.
The attack, which took place on May 11 2003, was so brutal that it left Martin Salinas, an American living in the UK at the time, with permanent brain damage.
He was targeted by the attackers, who kicked him and stamped on his head, while heading for a night out at Essential nightclub – owned by former Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith.
Mr Smith says he is so sickened by the attack, which led to the death of Mr Salinas three years later that he feels he has to do something to help catch the thugs. “I feel it’s only right that I do everything I can to find the people responsible for this savage attack,” he said.
“I work very closely with the police and the city council to try to keep the gay village a safe place to visit.”
Doctors report that the victim responded well to treatment after the attack and felt well enough to move back to his home in Texas.
However, a post-mortem examination proved that Martin died after a seizure which can be directly linked with the injuries he suffered in the Manchester attack.
Anyone with information on the attack should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
