Police name murder suspects after man found dead in a Birmingham park

Three men and a teenage boy are due at Birmingham Magistrates Court today (Friday, April 19) charged with the murder of Michael Junior Obasi.

Officers said that Mr Obasi, aged 38, died after being attacked in Perry Hall Park in Birmingham last month.

West Midlands Police were called to the park at around 11am on March 16 after a member of the public found his body. The father-of-one's death was initially not treated as suspicious, but a post-mortem established that he had been the victim of a serious assault.

On Thursday police charged Ion Calin, aged 18, Ion Morar, aged 20, Manuel Filipache, aged 21, and a boy aged 15 with the murder and robbery of Mr Obasi. All apart from the 15-year-old have also been charged with the robbery of another man which happened on January 15.

Two other men arrested as part of the investigation have been released on police bail, while a third has been released and will face no further action.

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‘Ripples of pain throughout the whole family’

In a statement, his family said: “Our dearly beloved, respectful son, brother, partner and father, Michael Junior Obasi, has been taken from us. “Michael’s loss has sent ripples of pain throughout the whole family. The family ask for your prayers at this time. Please help with any information you may have. The family request privacy at this difficult time and respectfully request no flowers. Rest in Peace, dear Michael Junior.”

Det Insp Michelle Thurgood, leading the investigation, said: “We’ve been supporting Michael’s family since his death, and are determined to establish exactly what happened to him and why. Our investigation has made good progress, and these charges are a significant development, but I still need help from the public.

“We believe Mr Obasi was the victim of a serious assault by a number of men in the park at some point between 7pm and 8pm on March 14, which is two days before his body was found. I really need to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of men running from the park during that time period.” Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch with police, quoting log 1538 of 16 March.