Jamar Walker murder: Licence revoked at stabbing scene pub
A pub in Smethwick has had its licence revoked weeks after 15-year-old Jamar Walker was fatally stabbed in a street outside.
The attack happened yards from The Puffing Billy – where a 17-year-old, who has been charged with murder, told police he had been an hour earlier.
The Raglan Road pub was already facing a licensing investigation after a string of complaints. And now a council hearing in the wake of Jamar's death has resulted in its licence being revoked.
The teenager was rushed to hospital after being stabbed at around 2.20am on December 20, but later died.
A 17-year-old charged with murder will next appear at the crown court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on February 8.
Sandwell Council's licensing committee heard how owner and designated premises supervisor (DPS), Amarjit Singh, aged 33, had allowed Sonia and Scott Woolley to manage the business, even though they were both not licence holders, had no previous experience of running a pub and had been trained by him.
It had remained closed from March to September last year for refurbishment, but opened again on October 1 under the Woolleys' management.
West Midlands Police licensing officer Mick Boyd, Sergeant Paul Shanaghan and Pc Dave Harnett were present at the meeting and all three spoke about incidents that had taken place over the last three months.
Pc Harnett said: "On December 17 I walked past the pub and looked through the window to witness an individual who was in plain sight rolling a cannabis cigarette, with around five bags of cannabis next to him in a tin. This as all in the presence and view of Mr Woolley, who was inside and smoking himself. The drugs were confiscated and a fixed penalty notice was served."
A day later on December 18 Mr Boyd had met with Mr Singh to inform him of this incident and to strongly advise against allowing a DJ known to police for having gang connections, play at the pub.
Mr Boyd said: "There was no other option than to revoke the licence."
He added that 'even if this tragic killing of a 15-year-old boy hadn't have happened', the pub 'would have been up for a licensing review regardless'.
Both Mr Woolley nor Mr Singh did not want to comment after the decision. They will now have 21 days for a right of appeal and the pub will have to close immediately.
