The mother of Robert Hart has made a fresh plea for witnesses to come forward 12 weeks after his death.
Robert, from Macclesfield, was viciously attacked after stepping in as his girlfriend, Gemma Parry, was repeatedly hit with an inflatable toy at the Parklife Festival in Manchester.
Police believe five unidentified revellers could hold the key to catching Robert Hart’s killer.
They have released the new images of festival-goers after trawling through thousands of pictures and videos sent in by crowd members.
They believe the women were nearby when Robert was punched to the ground at the Heaton Park event at around 9.15pm on June 7.
Robert’s mum Elaine Hart, who lives in Bollington, urged anyone with information to come forward. She said: “We need these five to come forward and identify themselves.
“If anyone knows anything at all, please come forward.”
Robert’s girlfriend Gemma, who lived with him for two years, renewed her plea for witnesses to come forward and told the Express how happy memories had kept her going through the ‘horrendous’ 12 weeks since his death.
She said: “We just need a name, anyone who can provide any information will hopefully help us find that needle in a haystack.
“Those people need to know Robert wasn’t just a festival-goer, he wasn’t just a City fan, he wasn’t just a boyfriend – he was a happy, wonderful man who always wanted to help others and to learn and see new things, he had plans and a future ahead of him, but someone took that away. He was such a high-energy person who wanted to make the most out of every day. He’s still my inspiration.
“He was so positive about life and the future – we wanted the house, the dog, to get married and have children.
“We were inseparable, we were soulmates. I still go to talk to him and still go to text him.
“Every time I wake up I expect him to be there.
“My heart’s split in two and half’s gone with him. I still can’t understand why something so cruel and so senseless happened to such a lovely man.”
Robert was a former pupil at Fallibroome Academy.
He lived in Liverpool with Gemma and worked in customer services at Barclays.
He has three siblings, Richard, Rachel and Nichola, and his mum, Elaine Hart, lives in Bollington.
Robert died in hospital five days after the attack in which he suffered a bleed to the brain.
Ten of the 12 revellers who initially had their pictures circulated in a similar appeal have since been in touch with police.
New pictures of the remaining two are among the five new images.
DCI Phil Reade said: “One of these people could hold the key to unlocking this investigation without even knowing it.
“Obtaining evidence such as that would represent a big step forward in this investigation.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0161 8569283 or email mit.syndicate8@gmp.police.co.uk.
