Young man fights for life after being stabbed at petrol station in Coventry

Police and paramedics were called to the BP Garage, in Butts Road, Spon End, just before 2am today



A young man was left fighting for his life in hospital after he was stabbed at a petrol station in Coventry.

Police and paramedics were called to the BP garage in Butts Road, Spon End, just before 2am today.

West Midlands Police said the 21-year-old victim was critically ill in hospital, and that the offender or offenders had yet to be caught.

The 24-hour garage was taped off until yesterday afternoon while forensics specialists examined the scene.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “Detectives have launched an investigation after a man was stabbed in Coventry.

“Officers were called by the ambulance service at around 1.50am to reports of a man with serious injuries on the car park of the BP service station, The Butts.

“The 21-year-old local man was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition.

“Police have cordoned off the BP Garage while forensic experts examine the scene and officers continue to make enquiries into the circumstances that led to the attack.”

Forensic officers in white protective clothing were searching the forecourt for clues and taking close-up photographs of the ground.

Yellow markers had been dotted around the forecourt to show areas of interest and officers could be seen carrying a large brown evidence bags, which appeared to be full.

Officers were also “trawling nearby CCTV” for clues in the hunt for the attacker or attackers.

Garage worker Vykunthan Nadarasa said: “Someone stabbed somebody but I don’t really know what’s going on.”

He added that two customers had been fighting and then one stabbed the other.

Police said the offender had still to be caught, and that the victim’s family were in the care of specialist officers.

Det Insp Justin Spanner, from the force’s CID, said: “We are investigating several significant lines of enquiry and continue to search for the suspect.

“My officers are also trawling nearby CCTV to establish any clues that will help the investigation.

“The family of the man have been informed and are being liaised with by specialist officers.

“If anyone was in the area at the time and can help the investigation then please contact me on 101.”

I was there about 6.30 last night and the petrol forecourt was coned-off, even though there was no delivery in progress. There is an all-night off-license on the forecourt and the pub next door has reopened only recently.

Two arrested after stabbing at Coventry petrol station

Two people have been arrested after a man was stabbed at a Coventry petrol station.

The 35-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an incident at the BP garage in Butts Road, Spon End, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Police say he remains in a critical condition.

A 21-year-old man from Coventry has now been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 23-year-old woman has been detained on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Detective Inspector Justin Spanner, from the force’s CID, said: “Our enquiries into what happened in the early hours of Sunday remain ongoing; two people have been arrested overnight in connection with the incident, but we are still asking for anyone with information to contact us.

“Specialist officers continue to support the man’s family.”

Coventry petrol station stab victim dies in hospital



A man found with serious stab wounds in Coventry in the early hours of yesterday has died.

The 35-year-old, who lived in Coventry, was taken to hospital, but passed away this afternoon.

A 21-year-old man from Coventry arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a 23-year-old woman detained on suspicion of assisting an offender both remain in police custody.

Officers launched an investigation after the local man was found on the car park of the BP service station in The Butts, Spon End, at 1.50am.

The victim's family are aware of his death and are being supported by specialist officers.

His name has not been formally released by police.

Det Insp Justin Spanner, from West Midlands Police CID, said: "Sadly we are now looking at a murder investigation and I would ask anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible.

“Our thoughts remain with the man’s family as they come to terms with their loss.”

Anyone with information is urged to call West Midlands Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 080 555 111.

The Enemy lead tributes to petrol station stab victim Mark Nesmith



Coventry band The Enemy have led tributes to a Coventry man who was allegedly stabbed to death at a petrol station.

Tributes have flooded in for the tattoo artist Mark Nesmith, who worked at Hales Street Tattoo in the city centre, after he died in hospital on Monday.

Mark, 35, had suffered serious injuries in an incident at the BP garage in Butts Road, Spon End, in the early hours of Sunday.

Former colleagues have paid tribute to Mark saying he “was family to us all” and have echoed the sentiments from one of the members of The Enemy.

A statement on the band’s Facebook page reads: “Today I learned that Mark Nesmith, a friend and an inspiration has passed away.

“I first met Mark when I was 16. Watching Mark sing in Akeal with the confidence he had was the inspiration I needed to begin singing.

“He was humble, hilarious and had a huge heart. He’ll be missed not only by his close friends and loved ones, but by all the people who were quietly influenced by him.

“Mark’s bravery, kindness and talent will be remembered every night on this tour, without his example I might never have had the confidence to sing a note.”

A tribute from his former colleagues at the Grizzly Tattoo Collective in Coventry, said: “We cannot express our deep sadness we have over the death of Mark Nesmith - not only was he an employee and colleague of the Grizzly Art Collective studio, he was family to us all.

“We had the pleasure of knowing Nessy since the day he came and asked for a tattoo apprenticeship. He is a very talented, unique artist.

“After qualifying as an illustrator at Coventry University his passion was to tattoo and he became our apprentice for a couple of years. He then ventured out on his own and had landed himself a position as a tattoo artist at Hales Street Tattoo in the centre of Coventry.

“He was a well-known man in the tattoo convention scene and would talk to anyone as if he had known them for years.

“He will be missed greatly by all of us at Grizzly Art Collective and his good friends at Hales Street - Warren Perry and Paddy O’Rafferty.

“It was an honour to work with this talented man over the years he worked at our studio. He will always hold a big place in our hearts.

“He without doubt kept our studio in high spirits with his humour and witty jokes.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank clients that left messages sharing their personal tattoo experiences with Nessy and the support from people all over Coventry and beyond.

“Our heartfelt love goes out to his family and his girlfriend.”

Two more men charged with murder of Coventry tattooist Mark Nesmith

Two more men have been charged with the murder of Coventry tattooist Mark Nesmith, following police raids.

The 35-year-old was found with serious wounds on the car park of the BP station in Spon End.

He was taken to hospital but died the following day from his injuries.

Uzair Hussain and Sebastian Vastaki-Barsby were both arrested by West Midlands Police officers during simultaneous raids at their home addresses on Wednesday morning (June 14).

Hussain, 24, from Crampers Field, Radford, and 18-year-old Vastaki-Barsby from Barkers Butts Lane in Coundon were both charged last night with murder.

They are set to appear at Coventry Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Tyler Smith, 21, of Attoxhall Road, Wyken, appeared before Coventry Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He is due to appear before Warwick Crown Court today.

Petrol station stabbing: Man guilty of murdering Coventry tattoo artist Mark Nesmith



A man has been found guilty of the murder of popular Coventry tattoo artist Mark Nesmith.

The 35-year-old was stabbed to death at the BP garage in Butts Road, Spon End, on June 11 this year.

And a jury has today found Tyler Smith, of Attoxhall Road, Wyken, guilty of murder at Birmingham Crown Court.

Smith, 21, was also found guilty of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.

His co-defendants - Uzair Hussain, 24, of Crampers Field, Radford, and Sebastian Vestaki-Barsby, 18, of Barkers Butts Lane, Coundon - were cleared of murder and the lesser charge of manslaughter, but were found guilty of violent disorder.

They will all be sentenced on Friday.

Murderer of tattoo artist jailed for life on day he became a dad

The killer of Coventry tattoo artist Mark Nesmith has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Tyler Smith stabbed Mr Nesmith in the back and shoulder before landing a fatal wound to the head of the 35-year-old.

Smith was jailed today – just hours after becoming a father – having been found guilty of murder following a trial. He will serve a minimum of 22 years before being considered for parole.

The 21-year-old, from Attoxhall Road, Wyken, had also been found guilty of violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon following the attack at the BP garage in Spon End in June this year.

Smith was sentenced for three years for each of those two offences to run concurrently with the murder sentence.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court alongside Uzair Hussain and Sebastian Vestaki-Barsby who were found guilty of violent disorder following the incident.

Hussain, 24, of Crampers Field, Radford, was given three years in prison and Vestaki-Barsby, 19, of Barkers Butts Lane, Coundon, was handed 30 months behind bars.

Handing down the sentence, Judge Paul Farrer QC said that Mr Nesmith – described by his devastated mother as “beautiful inside and out” - was attacked during an argument between his friends and the three defendants in the early hours of June 11.

During the row, Vestaki-Barsby dragged one of the women from Mr Nesmith’s group into Smith’s car on the petrol forecourt for around 25 seconds.

“That was the catalyst that led to this catastrophic event,” the judge stated.

Mr Nesmith’s friend, Warren Perry, was then pushed to the floor and kicked by Vestaki-Barsby, before Mr Nesmith tried to intervene.

It was then that Smith confronted him before stabbing him with a knife in the back and shoulder.

A second attack then came with Smith stabbing Mr Nesmith in the head, which the judge said led to his death.

While Mr Nesmith was severely injured, Hussain also kicked him in the head, which the judge described as a “cowardly act”.

Judge Farrer told Hussain and Vestaki-Barsby that they “did not intentionally assist or encourage” Smith’s attack on Mr Nesmith, but they did participate with Smith in violent disorder and used unlawful violence.