Sandwell club shut amid murder investigation

A nightclub at the centre of an attempted murder probe has had its licence suspended pending a full review hearing. MJ’s Bar on Bridge Street, Wednesbury, has shut with immediate effect.

A man was seriously injured inside the venue in the early hours of 13 August. He was later dropped off at Walsall Manor Hospital.

West Midlands Police said the bar did not contact the force or West Midlands Ambulance Service and “intended to continue to trade the following day despite a serious incident occurring”. Detectives who scoured the club’s CCTV footage said it showed “offenders in attendance inside the venue”.

Supt Jayne Robson this week urged Sandwell Council to review the club’s licence. In her report, she said: “At 4.07am, on 13 August, a male was dropped off at Walsall Manor Hospital with serious injuries.

“At the time, no earlier calls had been made to West Midlands Police reporting a serious incident and no reports made to West Midlands Ambulance Service of any incident.

“Officers have viewed CCTV at the premises and have confirmed MJ’s Bar was open and trading at the time the incident occurred and that it took place at the venue. CCTV has also shown offenders in attendance inside the venue”.

Supt Robson added in her summary: “Given the severity of the incident itself, the lack of a call from the venue or its staff to police or the ambulance service, and the intention to continue to trade the following day despite a serious incident occurring, we have significant concerns about the continued operation of the premises and respectfully request the suspension of its licence with immediate effect.”

Sandwell Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the decision to suspend the bar’s licence was made yesterday, 16 August. A council spokesperson said: “The decision was to suspend the licence with immediate effect. The suspension was connected with the Crime and Disorder Licensing Objective and there will be a full review hearing on 6 September.”