Cody Fisher murder-accused says co-defendant lied

Cody Fisher had played for a number of non-league Midlands clubs, most recently for Southern League Premier Division Central club Stratford Town

A man accused of murdering footballer Cody Fisher in a nightclub has claimed a co-defendant "manufactured" lies to disguise his own involvement.

Kami Carpenter told jurors he did not make a confession to Remy Gordon about the stabbing at Crane nightclub in Birmingham on Boxing Day 2022.

Prosecutors allege Mr Gordon, Mr Carpenter and a third defendant murdered Mr Fisher in revenge for an altercation in Solihull two nights earlier.

All three men have denied murder and affray.

Mr Fisher, a former Birmingham City academy member from Redditch who also played for Stratford Town and Bromsgrove Sporting, died in the club.

Giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, Mr Carpenter denied stabbing anyone, or knowing that anyone had been stabbed while he was inside the venue.

Claiming he later changed his clothes because they were wet and smelled, and not because evidence might be on them, the 22-year-old denied telling Remy Gordon he had caused Mr Fisher's death.

Mr Carpenter told the jury: "Remy is lying."

He later added: "The only reason I believe somebody would do that is to actually disguise their own intentions and what they have done."

Mr Fisher died while being given medical treatment at the club

Prosecutor Michael Duck KC asked whether he believed Mr Gordon was the killer.

"I can't say for certain," Mr Carpenter, of no fixed address, replied.

"That's just a conclusion I have drawn."

In evidence earlier this month, Mr Gordon, 23, of Cofton Park Drive in Birmingham, said he had not encouraged anyone to cause really serious harm to Mr Fisher and did not wish to cause really serious harm himself.

The trial of Mr Carpenter, Mr Gordon and Reegan Anderson, 19 and of no fixed address, continues.