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A man has been charged with the murder of Jacob Billington, one of eight people stabbed in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday.
Zephaniah McLeod, 27, of Nately Grove, Selly Oak, Birmingham, is also charged with the attempted murder of the other seven victims.
So far, police have not released a picture of McLeod, but Sky News has tracked down one of the first pictures, which shows the defendant on a red background.
Billington, 23, was partying with friends from Liverpool school, visiting one of his group studying in Birmingham, when he was stabbed in the neck.
Jacob Billington, 23, was stabbed in the neck during a night out with friends
Three people remain in hospital after the downtown attack, including Billington’s friend Michael Callaghan, who is in critical condition.
A 22-year-old woman, assaulted on Hurst Street, is in critical but stable condition, and a 30-year-old man is in serious condition.
The other four victims have been discharged.
Three people arrested on suspicion of helping a criminal were released early Tuesday pending an investigation.
Tributes have been paid to Mr. Billington from the university where he worked and studied, which he said was “deeply saddened” upon hearing the news.
The attacks occurred in Birmingham in the early hours of Sunday.
A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield Hallam said: “Jacob was a Sheffield Hallam graduate and had joined the library as a graduate intern, where his warmth and enthusiasm made him a very valuable member of our team.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time.
“We are providing support to those in our community who have been affected by this tragic incident.”
Billington and Callaghan had attended Sacred Heart Catholic College in Crosby, who prayed for them Monday night.
The police want any witnesses or anyone with photos to contact
The school said in a statement: “We are saddened by the events in Birmingham that took Jacob’s life and left Michael seriously injured.”
“We are praying for Michael’s recovery and we will never forget Jacob, his life touched many in our school.”
Also paying tribute was local Billington MP for Crosby, Bill Esterton, who said his friends had acted “heroically” in an attempt to save his life.
:: Anyone with information, photos or videos that can help should contact the police here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/20HQ19G54-PO1
