Woman fatally stabbed in the neck identified in court as Katie Fox as Djeison Rafael, 21, appeared before a district judge
Paramedics rushed to Smallbrook Queensway to treat a woman who had been stabbed (Image: Dayl Hardy)
The woman who died after being stabbed in the neck in Birmingham city centre was today named in court as a man appeared accused of her murder.
Djeison Rafael appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday morning, accused of murdering Katie Fox, who was stabbed on Smallbrook Queensway shortly before 9pm on November 7.
Wearing a grey t-shirt and flanked by two dock officers who removed his handcuffs as he faced District Judge John Bristow, Rafael was told to be quiet and look forward as he interrupted the six-minute hearing multiple times.
The 21-year-old, of Rosedale Avenue in Smethwick, was 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.
Rafael was told he was not going to be asked to enter any pleas because the offences were too serious to be dealt with by the magistrates’ court.
District Judge Bristow told the defendant: “I’m going to send you and your charges to the crown court on November 12.”
West Midlands Police said it wanted to hear from anyone who knew more about what happened or the movements of Rafael, who it described as a black British national.
The force said it believed he was wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers and rucksack on Friday evening.
The force previously said the victim, aged 34, was taken to hospital with a serious neck injury but later died of her injuries.