Two men appear in court charged with murdering footballer Cody Fisher on Boxing Day in Birmingham

Two men accused of murdering footballer Cody Fisher at a nightclub on Boxing Day will stand trial this summer.

The 23-year-old non-league player and sports coach was stabbed on the dancefloor of the Crane, in Digbeth, while enjoying a night out with pals.

Emergency services rushed to the popular nightspot at 11.45pm but despite desperate attempts to save Cody, he died 30 minutes later. Today (Wednesday, January 4)) Kami Carpenter, 21, and Remy Gordon, 22, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court charged with murder and affray.

The pair, both from Birmingham and dressed in black, did not enter any pleas during the short seven minute hearing and were remanded in custody. They will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing at the same court on March 17 and a provisional trial date was set for July 3.

Judge Paul Farrer told them: “You will next be before court on the 17th of March where the charge, or charges, will be put to you and you will be required to respond to them and the court will then make further directions. I have fixed the trial of this case for the 3rd of July this year. There is no application for bail before court and you are both remanded in custody.”

Police said Cody was stabbed on the dancefloor of the nightclub, which has since had its licence suspended, when a fight broke out. A senior officer told how nightclub staff began to clean up the drug-littered dancefloor while paramedics battled to save Cody’s life amid ‘chaotic scenes’.

Cody’s heartbroken family previously spoke of their devastation in a statement issued via West Midlands Police. They said: “They have broken our hearts; I have lost my best friend. My family and I are asking for privacy and respectfulness at this heart-breaking time.”

His grieving girlfriend Jess Chatwin also wrote online: “My poor baby. I’m so sorry this has happened to you. My whole world, the love of my life, my best friend has been taken away from me. I don’t know how I’m going to do life without you Code. There is so much we will never get the chance to do now. This doesn’t feel real. I love you forever Cody Fisher.”

Cody played for Bromsgrove Sporting, Stratford Town, Stourbridge and had been in the Birmingham City FC Academy. Another 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder has been released on bail as have four others arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.