Cody Fisher: Killers’ sentences considered for review

The trial at Birmingham Crown Court heard Mr Fisher, who had played for a number of non-league Midlands clubs, including Stratford Town and Bromsgrove Sporting, died because he brushed past Gordon at a busy bar on Christmas Eve and did not apologise.

His best friend, Dan Vann, who was with him, said the incident at Popworld in Solihull was so minor they thought nothing more of it.

“Literally nothing happened,” he said. They had “just gently tapped this kid on the back” as they walked out to leave.

But Gordon wanted revenge and spent the next 48 hours trying to find out who they were.

Judge Paul Farrer KC said: “Instead of shrugging off what was obviously an accident, Remy Gordon chose to take offence and became immediately aggressive.

“Mr Gordon’s attempt to bully Cody Fisher failed and he was left frustrated and embarrassed.”

The judge told Birmingham Crown Court that Carpenter started the fight and was most likely responsible for stabbing Mr Fisher.

In explaining the minimum terms he chose to give to Gordon and Carpenter, the judge told Gordon he was “essentially the leader” of his group.

He said, while he did not deliver the knife blow himself, “it was you that planned and drove this attack”.