Two arrested over murder of footballer at nightclub on Boxing Day
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the stabbing of footballer Cody Fisher at a Birmingham nightclub.
Fisher, 23, was fatally stabbed on the dancefloor of the Crane nightclub in the Digbeth neighbourhood shortly just before midnight on Boxing Day.
A 22-year-old man was arrested at an address in Birmingham after 12am, police said.
A second man, 21, was arrested in London.
Fisher was knifed at around 11:45pm moments after a group of people approached him while on a night out with friends, police said.
Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.
Fisher was a semi-professional footballer who played for Stratford Town FC, which is in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
His family said in a statement after his death: ‘I have lost my best friend. My family and I are asking for privacy and respectfulness at this heartbreaking time.’
His partner, Jess Chatwin, tweeted: ‘You didn’t deserve any of this. I’m so sorry this has happened to you my baby please come home.
‘I love you forever, Cody Fisher.’
West Midlands Police DCI Ian Ingram said ‘good progress’ was basing made in the investigation.
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‘We’ve been really pleased with the response from the public and have already had a number of witness accounts and images sent through, which will help with our investigation,’ he said.
‘It’s vital that we hear from everybody who saw any part of what happened that night – no matter how insignificant they think it might be
‘Cody’s family and friends are devastated by what happened and we’ll continue to work to bring them answers.’
One of the hundreds of club-goers described the incident as a ‘disaster waiting to happen’, pointing to what they saw as loose security checks.
An 18-year-old man from Wolverhampton said: ‘Me and the friend I was with, not once did we get asked to clear our pockets out even though mine were full. I had cargo trousers on with pockets full.
‘They didn’t even touch me whilst searching me, they just followed the outline of my body with their hands then tapped me to say go on through.
‘Obviously, you want everyone to have a good time and enjoy themselves (but) when we got in I said to my friend, “That’s the worst search I’ve ever seen”.
‘Anyone could have brought anything in.’
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