A woman who was stabbed in the neck during an unprovoked attack at a Birmingham bus stop has died, police have confirmed.
Katie Fox, 34, was attacked on Smallbrook Queensway, near the Bullring shopping centre, shortly before 9 p.m. GMT on Friday. She was taken to hospital in critical condition but later died from her injuries.
Djeison Rafael, 21, of Rosedale Avenue, Smethwick, appeared before Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The initial charge of attempted murder has been upgraded to murder following Ms Fox’s death.
Rafael also faces two counts of causing actual bodily harm related to incidents on 27 October and 7 November, as well as charges of possessing a Stanley blade and assaulting a detention escort officer.
During the six-minute hearing, Rafael interrupted proceedings several times and was told to remain silent by District Judge John Bristow. Due to the seriousness of the offences, he was not asked to enter pleas. The case has been referred to Birmingham Crown Court for a hearing on 12 November.
The attack occurred outside the Bullring shopping centre, opposite Birmingham New Street station. Police described it as “unprovoked” and said officers would maintain a visible presence in the city centre to reassure the public.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information about Rafael’s movements on the night. He is described as a Black British male, believed to have been wearing an all-grey tracksuit, black hat, trainers, and a rucksack.
Detective Inspector James Nix said investigators are “working to understand why this horrific attack took place.”
Local witnesses described the aftermath as “chaotic.” Shalini Doal, who works nearby, said she saw the emergency response around 10 p.m. “It was quite chaotic, and we were worried for our safety,” she said.
Ashley Birks, 25, from Stoke-on-Trent, said the incident made him concerned for his girlfriend, who lives and works in Birmingham. “She doesn’t drive and works at big venues around the city. To think something so unprovoked could happen—it’s horrible,” he said.
