THE mother of a footballer stabbed to death on a nightclub dancefloor said knife crime is "ruining so many lives" and she fears the sentencing of her son's killers will not act as a deterrent for other young people.
Tracey Fisher, who has not been able to attend the trial of her son's killers because she could not bear to face them, spoke outside Birmingham Crown Court today (Monday April 8) after murderers Remy Gordon and Kami Carpenter were jailed for life for the brutal killing of Cody Fisher at Crane nightclub on Boxing Day 2022.
She said it had been a "long and harrowing road" to get justice for her "beautiful boy" who was murdered on the dancefloor at the Digbeth nightclub two days after an earlier altercation had occurred in another nightclub between Cody and Remy Gordon.
Speaking to the media outside the court, supported by Cody's father, Christian Fisher, Mrs Fisher said while it was a "blessing" his killers are no longer on the streets, she felt that sentences for carrying knives needed to be harsher.
When asked what message they had for a young person who wanted to carry a knife, she said: "They are weak, pathetic cowards, and they will ruin so many lives."
She said: "Hopefully this will go some way to try and eradicate this awful epidemic that is ruining so many lives.
"Sadly, not all have been brought to account today, but they know who they are.
"For us as a family, Cody will still not come home and we will forever live in the shadow of his senseless murder.
"I know that our grief will go on and we will continue with our life sentence, missing our child each and every day.
"I will mention with many thanks the police and the legal team for their determination during the investigation and for apprehending those responsible.
"Our beautiful boy lost his life to knife crime, for no reason at all."
READ MORE: Cody Fisher murder: Remy Gordon and Kami Carpenter sentenced
Remy Gordon was ordered to serve at least 26 years behind bars for the killing, while Kami Carpenter was told he would spend at least 25 years in prison.
Both were convicted of murder after a trial, while Gordon was also found guilty of affray.
Reegan Anderson, aged 19, of Brookvale Park Road, Erdington, was jailed for 18 months after being cleared of murder, but found guilty of affray.
Judge Paul Farrer KC said during the sentencing hearing at Birmingham Crown Court that some "inevitable" contact had been made between Mr Fisher and Gordon as they attempted to leave Popworld in Solihull on Christmas Eve, just two days before the tragedy, and Gordon immediately became "aggressive".
He said: "Instead of shrugging off what was obviously an accident, Remy Gordon chose to take offence and became immediately aggressive.
"The focus of his aggression appears to have been Cody Fisher, who he asked to go outside and fight.
"Gordon probably expected Mr Fisher to back down but instead Mr Fisher stood up to him and accepted the invitation.
"Another man then intervened and sought to defuse the situation."
Gordon was left "frustrated and embarrassed" that his attempts to "bully" Mr Fisher were not successful and, within four minutes of leaving Popworld, Gordon was sending messages about him in a group chat with his friends.
Judge Farrer said Gordon believed he had been "disrespected", which led to the incident on Boxing Day at the Crane.
He said: "Cody Fisher was surrounded by a group of three or four youths, including Gordon and Carpenter.
"Gordon was immediately aggressive, pushing his face into Mr Fisher's and repeatedly demanding that he come outside.
"Mr Fisher wasn't prepared to go outside but was prepared to defend himself if necessary.”
He said the attack upon Mr Fisher lasted no more than 37 seconds and it only ended when Carpenter stabbed Mr Fisher in the chest.
Judge Farrer added: "Remy Gordon, as I've observed, after the incident you sought to suggest that Kami Carpenter was solely responsible for the killing of Cody Fisher. The reality is very different.
"You were essentially the leader of your group. It was you that felt slighted by Cody Fisher and it was you that planned and drove this attack.
"You were well aware that Kami Carpenter had a knife, and you intended that it would be used to cause Cody Fisher at least really serious injury.
"I cannot be sure that you necessarily intended that Mr Fisher should be killed, as opposed to being caused really serious injury, but, on any view, you were wholly reckless as to which would occur."
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC told the court Gordon was later captured on CCTV in a pizza takeaway restaurant "re-enacting the attack... and laughing while he did so".
He said the men had shown no remorse for what they had done and had sought to evade capture, with Gordon attempting to flee to Jamaica and Carpenter to London, before their arrests.
Anderson, who was sentenced to 18 months for affray, was free to leave court having served nearly 15 months in custody since his arrest.
None of the defendants showed any emotion as their sentences were handed down.
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