Birmingham club CRANE licence suspended following fatal stabbing of Cody Fisher
"It seems wholly appropriate that we then have a 28-day period to reflect on what’s happened and assist West Midlands police with their inquiries into this horrific crime," a lawyer representing CRANE's license holder said
CRANE, the Birmingham club where 23-year-old Cody Fisher was fatally stabbed on Boxing Day, has had its license temporarily suspended.
The West Midlands police submitted a license review application to the Birmingham council's licensing sub-committee under the Licensing Act "aimed at tackling serious crime and serious disorder, in particular (but not exclusively) the use of guns and knives", the Guardian reports. On 30th December, 2022, the suspension was approved for 28 days, pending a full hearing to happen within that period, according to the sub-committee's chair, councillor Diane Donaldson.
The police's application said, "West Midlands police are concerned as to how a knife has been able to get inside the premises. Any control measures the premises may have had have been found ineffective."
It continued: "This is compounded by the fact officers have seen evidence of drug use within the venue, which was openly on the dance floor. Also the chaos noted by officers with staff seemingly having no idea of how to manage the situation or preserve the scene, again pointing towards lack or poor control measures and training.”
Lawyer Duncan Craig, representing Crane's licence holder Damian Eston, said the venue's team did not oppose the suspension "given the horrific circumstances", according to the Guardian. "It seems wholly appropriate that we then have a 28-day period to reflect on what’s happened and assist West Midlands police with their inquiries into this horrific crime," Craig said. "There are one or two issues that my client takes with some of the matters that are asserted in the review application and it's hoped that 28-day period will also provide an opportunity to develop a better understanding of what happened on that dreadful night."
The two suspects, who were arrested late last week, appeared at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday 2nd, January, BBC reports. The 21- and 22-year-old Birmingham men did not enter a plea for the murder charge and pleaded not guilty to the charge of affray, or disturbing the peace of a public space with fighting. The next hearing is set for 30th January.
Fisher was non-league footballer, playing for non-league clubs such as Bromsgrove Sporting, Stourbridge FC and Stratford Town. He also coached school-level sports.
