Four teenagers praised for helping stab victim while walking home from school prom

Police have praised four teenagers who helped a stab victim, as they walked home from their school prom.

26-year-old James Brindley, was stabbed through the heart as he walked home after drinking with friends on Friday night.

Police said four boys, all aged 16, found him lying bleeding on the ground and went to his aid. Because he had just been talking on the phone to his girlfriend, one of the boys rang her and told her what happened.

James died at the scene in his parents’ arms in Aldridge town centre.

Police released CCTV images of four cars they want to trace as the occupants may have witnessed the attack.

West Midlands Police also said at the moment they have not established a motive as to why James was stabbed.

Detective Inspector Jim Munro said James had been drinking in Wetherspoons pub in the centre of Aldridge with his friends on Friday night and was making his way home when he was attacked at about 11.45pm.

Mr Munro said as yet they had not found a murder weapon but believe it to be a knife as a post mortem examination had showed James died of a stab wound to the heart.

He said the attack on James lasted “just seconds” in the period he was “off camera” in CCTV coverage in Aldridge.

Mr Munro said James was unemployed but hoping to start up his own health food business. In the past he had worked as a tree surgeon and also in a gym.

He said his family and girlfriend were “distraught” over his death.