Mother denies helping footballer's killer flee

Cody Fisher died at the Crane nightclub in Digbeth on Boxing Day 2022

The mother of a man who murdered footballer Cody Fisher tried to help him escape to Jamaica after the killing, a court has heard.

Kami Carpenter and co-defendant Remy Gordon were both jailed for life last year for the stabbing.

Prosecutors told Wolverhampton Crown Court Jahzeen Carpenter, 39, tried to help her son avoid arrest by booking him a flight, arranging accommodation in Spanish Town, and giving him £3,000 in cash.

Ms Carpenter, from Dudley, denies assisting an offender and claims she was planning the annual family trip to Jamaica. Her sister, Nadine Taylor, also from Dudley, faced the same charge but is too unwell to stand trial.

Mr Fisher, a former Birmingham City FC academy member who had also played for Bromsgrove Sporting and Stratford Town, was pronounced dead at the Crane nightclub in Digbeth on Boxing Day 2022, after suffering wounds to the chest and leg.

Prosecuting, Andrew Wallace said Ms Carpenter "dropped everything" to help her "adult son" when she became aware he had been involved.

"You were prepared to leave your baby daughter to sort your son out. It was an emergency wasn't it?" he said.

The mother-of-two said they always intended to visit Jamaica in late December-January.

"He had found himself a cheaper flight than I did and wanted to go a few days before us as the ticket showing for me and my daughter was a bit high," she said.

Jurors heard voice notes sent to a relative in Jamacia.

One said: "I need to get him there and safe and settled and then sort out myself."

Asked what she meant, she replied: "It was a long-haul flight and I wanted to make sure my son got there safely. It was just a figure of speech."

Kami Carpenter was jailed for life last year

Mr Wallace said Google searches were made on Nadine Taylor's phone and forwarded to Ms Carpenter, adding: "In a 24-hour period, searches about Cody Fisher, Crane nightclub and Digbeth murder were made - even 'how to know if an iPhone is being tracked'."

Ms Carpenter said she could not explain the searches, because she had not been with her sister.

Defending, Graeme Wilson said Ms Carpenter had been preparing for her family holiday since November and money given to her son was a gift and intended to be divided among relatives.

"The exchange rate was better over there," Ms Carpenter said.

The court heard the two sisters, along with Kami, had two suitcases outside a property in London when arrested on 28 December.

Ms Carpenter said when they were approached by armed officers in the early hours, she was "startled, frightened, and confused".

The court was told Ms Carpenter was unaware of her son having any involvement.

The trial continues.