Words by Ed King
An Erdington teenager accused of murdering footballer Cody Fisher (23) on Boxing Day 2022 has been found not guilty, as the highly publicised trial came to an end at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today – 25 March.
Reegen Anderson (19) from Erdington was cleared of murder, but found guilty on a separate charge of affray.
Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, affray refers to violent conduct in public setting ‘such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness… to fear for their own personal safety’ and could carry a sentence of up to three years following a conviction.
Anderson’s co-accused, Remy Gordon (23) from Rednal and Kami Carpenter (22) from Kings Norton, were both found guilty of murder and could be facing life imprisonment. Remy Gordon was also found guilty of affray.
All three will be sentenced at a later date.
Cody Fisher was fatally stabbed at Crane nightclub, Adderley Street, Digbeth, on Boxing Day 2022 – pronounced dead at the scene despite the best efforts of emergency services attending the incident.
He had been a semi-professional footballer from Redditch who had been part of the Blues Academy and played for teams in Bromsgrove, Stourbridge, and Stratford.
Following the killing, Remy Gordon and Kami Carpenter were initially arrested – with Erdington’s Reegan Anderson the last to be formally charged on 12 January 2023.
During the trial, the jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard how the defendants targeted Cody Fisher after a “minor altercation” at Popworld in Solihull, two days before the fatal stabbing.
Evidence showed Remy Gordon had used social media to try and identify Cody Fisher, and that both Gordon and Carpenter discussed how they could potentially smuggle a knife past security at Crane nightclub, where it was believed Cody Fisher would be on Boxing Day.
Further evidence showed Remy Gordon and Kami Carpenter approaching Cody Fisher on the dancefloor and “immediately being aggressive towards him”, where he has fatally stabbed through the heart and the murder weapon left “embedded” in his chest.
The jury also heard how Reegen Anderson had not known his co-accused for long and had met them through social media.
He told the jury: “I was added to a Snapchat group chat called Ravers Assemble. I’m not thinking these lads carry knives, I thought it was people who liked going out to raves.
“I had known these lads (Gordon, Carpenter) for two months.”
When questioned by Matthew Brook KC, he added: “These are not really my close friends, I have other friends I chat to on social media, I’m not always on this Snapchat group.
“I just went out for a good time.”
In a statement issued by the CPS following the verdict, David Parsons said: “Cody Fisher was an innocent party who was just trying to enjoy a night out with his girlfriend and friends when he was senselessly killed.
“The defendants showed a complete disregard for his life and their actions have robbed Cody Fisher of his future and caused immeasurable pain to his family.
“These two men (Gordon, Carpenter) lied and denied their involvement in Mr Fisher’s murder but we were able to present clear and compelling evidence including that from DNA, messaging on social media, witness testimony and CCTV footage which proved the murder was premeditated and that all three defendants were responsible for Mr Fisher’s death.
“The jury’s verdict reflects the gravity of their actions. Our thoughts are with Cody Fisher’s loved ones.”
