THE SPECIALS’ Neville Staple and his family have issued an emotional plea for anyone with information who was present on the night of their loved one Fidel Glasgow’s murder to step forward.
The family also called for the community to come together to combat knife crime during a press conference today.
Police say a ‘disorder’ took place outside Club M in Coventry city centre in the early hours of Saturday morning (September 1).
It left Fidel Glasgow – the 21-year-old grandson of The Specials legend – dead and another man with life threatening injuries.
Detective superintendent Matt Markham revealed there was a group of over 100 people in the area at the time of the fatal stabbing.
He said it was possible there could have been more than one attacker but confirmed only a small group were involved in the incident in Hertford Place at around 5.20am.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, he said.
An emotional Neville called on those who were part of that group to come forward.
He said: “I can’t even talk because it’s so shocking.
“Whoever was there and had seen what happened, come forward. That’s what we need.
“There are a lot of people who tried to help and step in. Those are the people who should come forward.
“They shouldn’t be frightened.”
Neville’s wife Christine said the family would continue to campaign against knife crime.
Christine, who spoke passionately at Godiva Festival at the weekend, said today: “We don’t know what’s happened, we don’t understand it.
“We need people to come forward. We need to know what Fidel’s final moments were.”
She added: “If you carry knives there is the risk it will be used on you, or that you will use it on someone else out of fear.
“You’re going to end up being a murderer, or you’ll end up dead. It’s just not worth it.
“It is everybody’s responsibility. How many parents are checking and talking to their kids about it?
“We’re not condoning violence but ‘jab don’t stab’. In a little punch up no one is going to end up dead.
“There are a lot of kids in gangs who don’t want it but don’t know how to get out of it.
“It’s touched us closer than ever before. It hurts. It hurts like hell.”
Kofi Staple, Fidel’s 21-year-old cousin, said he was like a brother to him.
He said he was always happy and smiling.
“He’s my cousin, and we need to know what happened. Someone is on the loose,” he said.
Club M has been served a notice of closure by West Midlands Police for an initial duration of 28 days.
Neville and Christine also implored West Midlands Police to put money onto the frontline and into communities affected by crime.
She was responding to superintendent Markham who said the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson had invested £2million in fighting knife crime.
Christine asked: “Where is the money? We need to see it on the frontline.”
