Teen accused of murdering 15-year-old in Wolverhampton appears in court
A 16-year-old has appeared in court charged with the murder of a "funny, loving boy".
Zane Smart, 15, was fatally stabbed in The Haymarket area of Pendeford, in Wolverhampton, at about 3.40pm on Friday.
The defendant, who can not be named for legal reasons, appeared at a brief hearing before District Judge Graham Wilkinson today(31) at Wolverhampton Youth Court.
Dressed in dark coloured trousers and a white shirt, the youth spoke only to confirm his name, age and address. No pleas were given.
Judge Wilkinson adjourned the matter and remanded him in custody in youth detention overnight. The defendant will next appear at the crown court tomorrow.(1)
Zane's family paid tribute to him in a statement issued through West Midlands Police on Monday evening.
In it they said: “Words cannot describe the unbearable loss we feel as Zane’s family. He was a brother, a son, a grandson, a nephew who was loved deeply.
“The world keeps turning but for us it has stopped still, we are held in a nightmare from the moment he lost his life to yet more knife crime.
"We want him to be remembered as the funny, loving boy he truly was, with an infectious dimpled smile that lit up any room. Zane you are the kindest soul, and we love you deeply. We will never stop loving you and being in your corner, our boy."
Police are also continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
Officers investigating the death say Zane was part of a group of people standing outside Pendeford Fish Bar, The Haymarket, at about 3.40pm on Friday.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “We still need to identify everyone who was there so that we can speak to them about what happened. If you can help, please get in contact with us as soon as possible.
“We know that a video showing some of the incident was posted on Snapchat.
“The video is vital to our investigation and we’re appealing for anyone with a copy of it to send it in, or let us know which accounts it was shared by.”
A 46-year-old woman who police arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been released pending further enquiries.
Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police via Live Chat on the force's website. Anyone with a copy of the video should email the investigation team directly on homicide_t5@westmidlands.police.uk.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote reference number 2838 of 27/05/22.
