Warning over footage of victim’s dying moments

ANYONE sharing the final moments of a murder victim online could be prosecuted, a senior detective has warned. Det Chief Insp Jim Munro said the force had asked Twitter to remove footage of 31-year-old Karl Gallagher’s death after he was fatally stabbed in Smethwick on Sunday, April 26.

He said anyone sharing the scenes outside West Cross Shopping Centre could be taken to court.

The officer spoke after eight men were arrested in connection with Mr Gallagher’s death, four on suspicion of murder, after a series of house raids.

Mr Munro said: “We’ve made significant progress over the past 24 hours and are building up a clearer picture of the events of Sunday afternoon. “We’re very much aware that video showing the murder of Karl has been widely shared on Twitter. “We have contacted them and have asked them to remove it, but to date we know the footage remains publicly visible.

“I’d urge people not to share the footage, and to report it to Twitter whenever they see copies of it.

“It’s very distressing for Karl’s family to know his final moments have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. It’s also important to remember proceedings are now active, and that anyone who does share it is potentially committing a criminal offence.” Two men, aged 19, as well as a 21-year-old and a 20-yearold, were detained on suspicion of murder. Three others, aged 20, 21 and 22, were held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Another man, aged 24, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing police. Mr Gallagher, who was from Smethwick, was described by his family as a “very dearly loved son, brother, nephew, cousin and partner”.