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Friends mourn Dili

7:30pm Monday 30th June 2008

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By Matt Wilkinson »

An Oxford United football fan killed on an unlit road while walking home from a night out has been described by friends as a 'real joker' who will be missed.

Hairdresser Jonathan Diliberto, 22, died after a collision with a black Renault Clio on the A338 between East Hanney and Frilford in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The former Fitzharrys School pupil, of Gardiner Close, in Abingdon, was walking with a group of seven friends aged between 15 and 22 following an end of year school party at East Hanney War Memorial Hall.

The car was driving towards Frilford and came from behind the group, colliding with Mr Diliberto and his friend, named locally as 18-year-old Ben Thompson.

Mr Diliberto - who worked as a hairdresser at his father's salon, Giovanni's Barber Shop, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford - died at the scene.

Mr Thompson was still in hospital tonight with serious injuries.

Dozens of floral tributes have been left at the scene.

Today friend Daniel Webb, 18, said: "He was a real joker. He was great fun and always there for his friends. He used to make people laugh.

"Quite often he would take a bunch of us in his car to away games and never ask for any money for petrol. He just like going to the games.

"I was in shock when I was told. I phoned his mum and she just said 'Danny, he's gone'. I can't believe it. Lots of people will miss him."

Dozens of tributes have been posted on the Oxford Mail website and Oxford United fans' forum.

One read: "Such a tragic loss. Thoughts with all the family and friends."

Friends described him as fan of both Oxford United and Manchester United.

Among roadside tributes was one which read: "For my darling grandson, I will always love you, Nana."

Another said: "I have loved you all your short life, I will always loved you, sweet dreams, Bernie."

Chris Bolton, of East Hanney, also left a floral tribute which read: "I only helped on the scene, rest in peace."

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the collision or witnessed the black Renault Clio before the incident to come forward.

Detectives have spoken to the driver but no one has been arrested.

Sgt Bill Sykes said: "There may have people that could have seen the group of men walking along the road or the car being driven before the collision. Those people who were there are quite shaken up, and we are still in the process of speaking to them."

Anyone with information should call 08458 505505.


Your Say YourOxford

junior, oxford says...
2:42am Tue 1 Jul 08

rip dilly lad...never forget you on joeys ting tong tours!!!, you lived for united and your mates..junior

tasha p, abingdon says...
9:15am Tue 1 Jul 08

you are missed so much dilly. still doesnt seem real. i still think im going to see you driving around in your car soon. x

marjie binningley, abingdon says...
10:04am Tue 1 Jul 08

so sorry dilli, we remember you with fondness!
love marjie paul and children x x

Sam T, oxfordshire, Abingdon says...
10:55am Tue 1 Jul 08

Rip m8 u was one of the gd 1s. never forgotten.

Gem R, Abingdon says...
11:39am Tue 1 Jul 08

RIP Dilly you will never be forgotten as you were always out with a smile and ready for anything! I will never forget the days we all went camping :) x x

Emma, Chalgrove, Oxford says...
12:31pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Dilly baby im always going to remember you,You were amazing to me and i will never forget how kind u were to me babe. I gave u that special chance, and i now i cant belive that you have gone. Im going to miss you sooooo much darling. sleep tight gorgeous love you lots x x x x

Dec Fulton, Abingdon says...
1:05pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Dilly mate x

Jamie, oxford says...
1:24pm Tue 1 Jul 08

RIP mate

Chrissy, Kidlington says...
2:15pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Mate was only a week ago we were sharing jokes up the kassam, hard to believe your gone mate!
RIP

Mouse O'Donoghue, www.drumnbassmasters .co.uk says...
3:45pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Buddy
WWW.DRUMNBASSMASTERS
.CO.UK

Chloe, Abingdon says...
4:19pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Dilly x

Up The Manor!, London Road says...
4:36pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P from the Wantage Yellows

Nathan gee, BlackBird Leys says...
4:40pm Tue 1 Jul 08

rip mate u will b miss on the right side the right side of london road. u will always b 1 of the lads every game we no u will b their with us all mate miss u loasd GOD BLESS.

BigDave, Mortimer nr Reading says...
5:10pm Tue 1 Jul 08

RIP Mate. My thoughts are with Dili and his Family.

Mike Butler, Abingdon says...
5:22pm Tue 1 Jul 08

RIP dilly mate your gonna be sorely missed by alot of people x

emma avery, abingdon says...
5:28pm Tue 1 Jul 08

dili i will miss you comeing to mcdounalds you all ways talk to me about oxford utd i lost my half brother 18 december hit a tree love from your famliy

MUGGY, Abingdon says...
6:02pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P dilly , You was good m8 and neva b forgoton, Memba goin reading wiv u n was in this shop and u were tryin on the flat peaks, sum old boy was like, wat he on bruv, n u was like im dilly blud. U a rite joka and allways remember u , will c u agen 1 day. Rest In Peace Dilly. My heart goes out to your mum Andreen, Dad Michael and Brother Sam. R.I.P from my family 2

maria, Abingdon says...
6:04pm Tue 1 Jul 08

RIP dilli u will be missed by evryone weneva i see a white lil car i will allways think of u 1 you wer so jokes and will never be forgotton miss ya mate ****

Butlers, abingdon says...
6:16pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Dili, we will miss you arriving at our house in your car, always with a smile and a wave, such a sad waste, r.i.p x

Adam, Abingdon says...
6:34pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Dilli, cant belive ur gone mate always remember the good old days u was such a laugh gonna be weird not seein u out n about again.. why did it have to be u mate. Hope all the best to ur family, u'll never be forgotten mate

Chris, east hanney says...
7:26pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Dilli. May you rest in peace, i did not know you personally but my feelings go to you and to all your friends.

Josh, Kennington says...
8:18pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Dili u were great u made every1 laugh at oxford games it will not be the same without you
RIP Dili

Frenchy, North leigh says...
8:28pm Tue 1 Jul 08

Gonna miss ya mate, those college days was such a laugh,remember when oxford beat swindon and charlton that yr and me and u was having such a laugh in lessons about the games, we just wouldn't shut up no matter how many times we was warned to be thrown out of class!!

gonna miss your huge grin at oxford games and your love for them mate, RIP hun xxx

mel, abingdon says...
8:32pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R-I-P. dili you will be missed you will always be remembered in dave and stuarts hearts.miss ya.mel and rick.

gem m, abingdon says...
9:00pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P dilly you had a heart of gold when i was down we all used to go out down tilsley and you always put the smile back on my face miss you ****

Sam, Abingdon says...
10:08pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P Dilly
gunna miss u buddy, cnt believe u have gone :( goin to be hard! all them lifts to footy around town, oxford etc wil never forget the good times..take it easy x

Kerri, says...
10:25pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P dilli. miss yoo so much . neva forget all the tyms in d car lol. take care love ya ltz xxx

steve, banbury says...
10:25pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P dilly m8 was only a week last sunday when you come 2 see me and webby fishing and you went to get us a kfc from up the road then u was joking about pretending you was going 2 drive off and leave ben behind and the other week wen you was chatting that woman up at the burger van in abingdon and you went in dilly blud .. i havent known you long m8 but i have known you long enough too know your a funny guy and loved you car R.I.P buddy x

knighty & abingdon yunguns, says...
10:31pm Tue 1 Jul 08

RIP mate, was always there, what ever happend at football you would be there smiling cheering everyone up. Going to miss you mate, wont be the same without you. You wwere a legend, we are the left side london road RIP X x

jamie, oxford says...
11:27pm Tue 1 Jul 08

r.i.p mate you was deffently someone we could bump into for a laugh and a catch up.cant believe something like this could happen to someone we no.deeply gonna be missed by every1.yellows forever mate jamie and m8s

Rachel, Didcot says...
11:35pm Tue 1 Jul 08

R.I.P dilly! Im going to miss you so much babe don't know what any of use are going to do with out you! You where a good mate to everyone! If it was not for you I would of never met ben! I will keep all the memories of you very close to my heart, how you would drive us around in your car and how you always made everyone laugh! You might be gone but you will NEVER be forgoten! Love You and Miss You X X X X X X X X X X X

Oxford stewards, Didcot says...
12:05am Wed 2 Jul 08

Dili..from all the oxford utd stewards..always good for a laugh..will be soorely missed at oufc games. RIP...our thoughts are with your family and friends...we know u will be with us when the U's go up!!!!!

josey, oxford says...
12:31am Wed 2 Jul 08

so sad to hear of ur early death u and my son played together when you were 5/6 yrs old.thoughts to ur lovely family. r i p

Terry Chandler, Oxford says...
12:46am Wed 2 Jul 08

I didn't know you dilly but you sound like someone i would have liked to have known. My heart goes out to your family and friends.

Hannah, Oxford says...
1:16am Wed 2 Jul 08

Rip Dilly ...Your gunna b really missed...Cant believe it happend 2 you Love You XXX

natasha challis, abingdon says...
3:14pm Wed 2 Jul 08

rip jonathan, it may of been ages since we last spoke, but you wont be forgotten!

all the best to the family
x

Yellow, Banbury says...
3:23pm Wed 2 Jul 08

RIP, from all your fellow yellows.

Jacqui&&Tash aa, Abingdon says...
4:10pm Wed 2 Jul 08

Jacqui: Cant believe ur gone gna miss seein u cruisin around =( always in my heart love youu x

Tasha: Sleeptight your in a better place now gonna miss seein you about take care love you xx

lee mitchell, abingdon says...
9:15pm Wed 2 Jul 08

R.I.P DILLY guna miss u m8 u was loved and known by everyone. guna miss u drivin round and seein u at oxford. sleep tight m8 x

Wiggy, Abingdon says...
1:34am Thu 3 Jul 08

Ebbsfleet away last season was jokes us sat in hyde park with a few beers. The kassam wont be the same.
RIP x

Nicola, eynsham says...
4:47pm Thu 3 Jul 08

R.I.P. dilly! Cant beleive you have gone, going to miss our chats on the computer loads. love and miss you loads. Always in my heart. Nicola ****

Jayne, Oxford says...
6:45pm Thu 3 Jul 08

I will always remember you and your bright smile, and how you always seemed cheerful. God Bless. Jayne.

Lewis Parry, Abingdon says...
4:09pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Mate you are going to be missed
R.I.P Dilly

lucy, wantage says...
8:08pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Rest in peace Dilly.
I didnt know you but two of my friends died on the same road two years ago, it hurts like hell.
my thoughts are with the rest of your family anf with your friends x x x

Kat, Milton Keynes says...
5:31pm Tue 8 Jul 08

RIP Dilly

met you at that party that nite and yeh i acted proper bad, includin to you... this shudnt have happened... man i hope somewhere up there youre havin an amzing time.. always got told by peeps before i met you tht you were a real laugh
****

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