A man charged with murdering a woman in an allegedly unprovoked stabbing at a Birmingham bus stop was too ill to attend a scheduled court hearing today.
Court Proceedings Adjourned Due to Illness
Djeison Rafael, the 21-year-old accused of killing 34-year-old Katie Fox, was due to enter pleas at Birmingham Crown Court this morning via video link from HMP Long Lartin. However, the court was informed that Rafael, from Smethwick in the West Midlands, was too unwell to appear. The hearing has been adjourned until July 24.
Rafael faces a series of serious charges related to the incident and other alleged offences. The charges include:
- Murder
- Two counts of causing actual bodily harm (ABH) on October 27 and November 7
- Possessing a bladed article
- Assaulting a detention escort officer
Details of the Fatal Attack
The tragic incident occurred on November 7 last year on Smallbrook Queensway, directly opposite the main entrance to Birmingham New Street station and just yards from the Bullring shopping centre. Katie Fox was stabbed in the neck during the attack.
Emergency services rushed her to hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries three days later, on November 10. Police have described the attack as 'unprovoked'.
Members of Katie's family, including her boyfriend Gary Morris, were present in the public gallery to observe today's proceedings.
A Family's Heartbreaking Tribute
In a poignant tribute released through the police following Katie's death, her grieving family described her as the 'shining light' in their lives and 'special in every way'. They said her loss was 'so hard to bear and so hard to comprehend'.
The family's statement read: 'A part of us was snatched away on that very fateful night. A part of us also vanished suddenly when you passed away, leaving us all with such sadness and heartache. You were a shining light in our lives, you were so special in every way... Your loss to us has been so hard to bear and so hard to comprehend, but we know that you are still with us and giving us the strength in every way. You are our guardian angel.'
They remembered Katie as a 'so beautiful and kind' daughter, concluding their tribute with: 'God bless you Katie our special and gentle daughter.'
Rafael, whom police identified as a black British national, is now scheduled to stand trial in front of a High Court judge on October 6.
