Christopher Clarke

Christopher Clarke was stabbed at Fozzies Nightclub in Small Heath on 1 March 2000.

A man was tried for his murder but acquitted, although he was convicted of affray and sentenced to 30-months.

He was described as having been stabbed, beaten, punched and clubbed to death with champagne bottles by a gang of ten black youths who were described as a ‘pack of animals’ at the club.

He suffered two stab wounds to the chest, one wound piercing his heart, and died outside the club.

He had been with a 23-year-old friend who was also stabbed in the stomach, but who survived.

The attack happened at about 6am on the Saturday as the club was closing and he had been making his way out with a number of other people. A witness said that it was clear that he had been targeted.

It was said that the case was dropped because witnesses were not prepared to admit they saw a knife being used.

The police said:

Christopher Clarke had lived in Hockley and had a girlfriend and two-year-old daughter.

It was thought that Christopher Clarke had been a member of the Johnson Crew who were rivals with the Burger Bar gang.

His murder was said to have resulted in the retaliatory murder of 24-year-old Yohanne Martin who was shot six times as he sat in his car in West Bromwich High Street. Yohanne Martin had been a member of the Burger Bar gang. Three people were convicted for killing Yohanne Martin.

Yohanne Martin's murder was itself said to have resulted in an attempted retaliatory murder at a party which resulted in the deaths of 17-year-old Letisha Shakespeare and 18-year-old Charlene Ellis. Four men were convicted for their murder, including the man that was suspected of murdering Christopher Clarke.