The murder of 23 year-old footballer Cody Fisher - stabbed to death on the dance floor at the Crane nightclub in Digbeth on Boxing Day - prompted horror and outrage across the country.
The young man, from Redditch, had a promising career ahead of him after playing for Stratford Town FC, Stourbridge FC and Bromsgrove Sporting and had been signed to Pro Vision Sports management.
In a heart-wrenching statement from his family released by police they said:"They have broken our hearts; I have lost my best friend.”
Schoolchildren from St Gregory’s School in Stratford-upon-Avon formed a guard of honour in memory of him on Saturday at the Stratford Town Game and held a minute’s silence. It was the first match at the club since his death.
Meanwhile thousands of people have signed a petition calling for Cody’s Law - to make metal detectors and bleed kits law for clubs and events. More than 20,000 had signed this morning (Tuesday, January 10) with many leaving heartfelt messages as to why this this law is so important.
One person said: “A metal detector at the entrance of a club should be mandatory to identify a weapon so avoiding another senseless murder.” Another signee said: “I’m a ex doorman and I have said for many many years and strongly believe metal detector, defibrillator and bleed kits should be everywhere and not just clubs,yes it may have saved Cody’s life but unfortunately now we will never know.”
And a woman who signed previously said: “Cody had his whole life ahead of him. A kind, talented young man who had his life taken away by a knife! At a place where he should have been safe to have fun.”
BirminghamWorld has remembered 13 people who were stabbed throughout 2022 with Ministry of Justice figures for West Midlands Police showing young people were involved in 3,060 knife crime cases which resulted in cautions or convictions between July 2010 and June 2021, but the true scale of crimes involving children is likely to be higher.
Two men suspected of murdering Cody appeared at Birmingham’s Crown Court last Wednesday. Kami Carpenter, 21, of no fixed address, and Remy Gordon, 22, of Cofton Park Drive, were remanded in custody.
The Crane nightclub has had its licence suspended for 28 days.
To sign the petition for Cod’s Law go here: Cody’s Law make metal detectors and bleed kits law for clubs and events
9. Clifton Waite, 56
Clifton Waite was found with fatal knife wounds at a house on Waverley Road in November. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother Lenville Waite has been charged with the murder of his brother | west midlands police
10. Mohammed Istakhar, 44
Father-of-five Mohammed Istakhar was stabbed and killed in Solihull. Luca De-Fazio was arrested in connection with the death of the taxi driver, who sadly died after being found with serious injuries at the junction of Braggs Farm Lane and Lady Lane in November. | West Midlands Police
11. Cynthia Turner
Cynthia died after being stabbed at a property in Hilton Road, Oldbury. Legitte Reid, 55, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on 14 December charged with the murder of his wife Cynthia. | West Midlands Police
12. Jack Lowe, 18
Jack was found fatally stabbed on Wednesday, December 7 Despite the extensive efforts of ambulance teams he died at the scene in parkland off Cook Street, near IKEA in Wednesbury. West Midlands Police have charged a 18-year-old man with murder. | West Midlands Police