Two men appear in court over footballer Boxing Day murder

TWO men will appear in court this morning charged with the nightclub murder of semi-professional footballer Cody Fisher.

The 23-year-old died at the Crane venue in Birmingham after suffering a stab wound sustained during a ‘fight on the dancefloor’ late on Boxing Day.

Kami Carpenter, 21, and Remy Gordon, 22, were charged on Saturday evening and were remanded into custody ahead of their first court appearance before magistrates in Birmingham today.

The pair, both from Birmingham, also face a second charge of affray.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ingram, from West Midlands Police’s homicide unit, said: ‘This is a significant development in our investigation as we seek to get justice for Cody, his family and friends.’

Crane had its licence suspended for 28 days by Birmingham City Council on Friday after West Midlands Police applied for a review amid concerns of ‘serious management failings’. Officers recovered a knife from the club and ‘described a scene of chaos and evidence of drug use within the premises’.

Mr Fisher, who also coached schoolchildren, had been at the venue with some of his teammates from Stratford Town FC in Warwickshire. The club has called off today’s fixture with Bromsgrove Sporting, one of Mr Fisher’s former clubs, as a mark of respect.

Chairman Jed McCrory also announced on Saturday that the club would set up a fund named after the player to help young adults obtain a coaching licence.

Mr Fisher was remembered by his girlfriend Jess Chatwin in an emotional message posted on Twitter.

She wrote: ‘You didn’t deserve any of this... I love you forever.’

A 22-year-old man, also arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail while inquiries continue. Four others arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have been released on bail.