Police continue to appeal for student death witnesses.
Witnesses are still being sought to the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old college student in Moseley yesterday after a suspect handed himself into police.
The 17-year-old suspect, from Yardley Wood, handed himself in to Birmingham Central police station at around 12.30pm this afternoon. He is now in police custody and will now be questioned by detectives about the attack in Yardley Wood Road just after 8.30am yesterday in which newly-enrolled Bournville College pupil Azim Azam was stabbed. A post mortem examination confirmed he died from a single stab wound to the chest.
Detective Superintendent Mark Payne, said “A huge number of police resources were deployed into tracking down the person we believed was responsible and this afternoon a teenager has handed himself in for questioning. We are still at the early stages of this inquiry and it’s of paramount importance that anyone who witnessed the attack, or the events leading up to it, contact us as they could hold crucial information.”
It is believed that the victim, from Billesley, was travelling on the Birmingham-bound number 2 bus when he became involved in a row with a fellow passenger during the morning rush hour. The pair left the bus in Yardley Wood Road just after 8.30am and shortly afterwards the victim was found lying in the street at the junction with Hayfield Road having suffered a stab wound. He later died in hospital.
Police are now studying hours of CCTV footage in a bid to determine events leading up to the boy’s death and Detective Inspector Warren Hines, leading the police inquiry, added: “The motive for the attack remains unclear, although we believe this was a dispute between two youngsters and not a random attack.
Di Hines added, “People who were travelling on the number 2 bus at around the time of the attack may well have vital information to help our inquiry. I’m sure there are passengers that have not yet contacted us. They may have heard or seen something but not realised the seriousness of what followed. I’d urge them to call us.”
Anyone with any information in relation to the crime should call West Midlands Police CID on 101. People who do not want to speak with police officers directly can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
