Katie Fox was stabbed on Smallbrook Queensway in Birmingham city centre shortly before 9pm on Friday November 7, a death being treated by West Midlands Police as murder
Heartbroken friends of the victim of an “unprovoked” city centre stabbing have expressed their grief following her death.
Katie Fox’s pals described the 34-year-old woman as “a beautiful soul” in the wake of the stabbing, which happened on Smallbrook Queensway in Birmingham city centre at around 9pm on Friday. Djeison Rafael, 21, appeared in court yesterday, accused of her murder.
Katie’s friends and neighbours in the Northfield area of the city yesterday shared their heartbreak. One said: “They’ve lived there for 20-odd years, Katie was a teenager when they arrived. She was a nice girl. I heard there had been an incident in the city centre but can’t believe she has died. It’s a tragedy. She didn’t live in the family home, I think she had a flat in Longbridge (a neighbouring area of Birmingham).”
One friend posted online: “This is absolutely devastating! Poor lady was in the wrong place at the wrong time. More needs to be done to help people feel safe again, more police on the streets and greater consequence for the crime. Sad for the family and friends.”
Katie was rushed to hospital on Friday but police yesterday confirmed she had since died of her injuries. We reported yesterday how, as yet, signs suggest the attack was unprovoked.
Cathy Crossley, from Arts All Over The Place (AAOTP), a mental health charity in the city, wrote: “Tragic news today that Katie Fox, partner of Gary Morris died after being stabbed on Friday Evening in Birmingham.
“She was a friend of AAOTP for many years, and attended several events. we are all devastated and send so much love and support to Gary Morris, who is bass player in our band ADHD.”
Wearing a grey T-shirt and flanked by two dock officers who removed his handcuffs at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, Rafael was told to be quiet and look forward during the six-minute hearing. The young man interrupted District Judge John Bristow multiple times before he was remanded into custody ahead of Thursday’s hearing at Birmingham Crown Court.
In addition to murder, Rafael, from Smethwick, West Midlands, is also charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm on October 27 and November 7, possession of a Stanley blade on November 7 and assaulting a detention escort officer on November 8.
A statement from West Midlands Police yesterday morning read: “A woman has sadly died after a stabbing in Birmingham on Friday night. A 34-year-old was taken to hospital with a serious injury to her neck after she was stabbed on Smallbrook Queensway shortly before 9pm. She has since tragically died in hospital. Our thoughts are with her loved ones and specially trained investigators are supporting her family.
It added: “Extra officers will be around Birmingham city centre to offer reassurance as we understand this is a worrying incident. We are still keen to hear from anyone who knows more about what happened or the movements of Rafael, who we believe was wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers and rucksack on Friday evening (7 November).”
