Father killed in Bilston street fight

A murder inquiry was under way today after a father-of-two was stab-bed to death in Bilston during a street fight between pub-goers and wedding guests.

Detectives this afternoon revealed details of a suspect wanted in connection with the killing of Tom Berry as officers searched drains for the murder weapon.

The 34-year-old died in New Cross Hospital after being stabbed outside the Spread Eagle pub in Lichfield Street on Saturday night. The clash involved drinkers from the pub and others from a wedding reception at Bilston Town Hall opposite. Both men and women were involved. Mr Berry is thought to have been among the wedding party.

Click on the images on the right to see more pict6ures from the scene.

Three other men were taken to hospital with stab wounds linked to the violence. Two of them, aged 32 and 25, were today still in hospital in stable conditions. A third, aged 32, went home after treatment.

Eye-witnesses told how beer glasses were hurled when violence flared shortly before 11.30pm on Saturday.

The fight is believed to have stemmed from an argument in the street between pub customers, during which a punch was thrown. Revellers who had spilled out from the wedding reception were watching the brawl, with some looking on from a window of the town hall, when trouble flared.

A witness who was eating at the nearby Orchard Cafe at the time said: "There were lads having a row with girls then one lad punched somebody and ran off.

"There was a wedding going on at the town hall and the guests were watching this fight in the street. One of the people asked them what they were looking at."

The 35-year-old, who asked not to be named, then described about 10 beer glasses being thrown. Wedding guests told how a man came rushing into the town hall with blood pouring from his neck.

Alex Sinuks, who was working as a security guard at the town hall, said he was alerted to the violence when 20 people came running inside screaming and shouting. "A man came in and he had blood coming from his neck. He was covered in blood," he said.

The window of Bilston Bassline cafe was smashed during the trouble. Devastated relatives have been leaving flowers at the scene in tribute to Mr Berry, who leaves sons Owen and Elliot and partner Avril.

Appealing for witnesses, Det Insp Gary Dring said officers were looking for a mixed race man in his 20s, with short dark hair and wearing tracksuit bottoms. He is believed to have left the scene in a dark car.

A post mortem on Mr Berry, who owns a house in The Castings, Coseley, which he rents out, was taking place this afternoon.

A Facebook page called RIP Tommy Berry has beenset up describing the victim as "such a nice bloke" and an "absolutely brilliant daddy to his little boys".

A section of Lichfield Street from its junction with Hall Street and Mount Pleasant was still sealed off this afternoon.

Three men arrested at the scene and questioned about alleged disorder offences have been released on police bail.