Nightclub's licence revoked over fatal attack

A nightclub has been closed down, following the death of a 51-year-old man outside its doors last month.

West Midlands Police told a Walsall Council licensing committee staff at Discotheque.Life on Lichfield Street had failed to report the incident and did not attempt to help the victim.

The licence holder, Isaac Cobbinah-Koompong, asked for the venue to remain open, with a fresh set of conditions.

But West Midlands Police said it did not believe the club would adhere to new conditions and the council committee agreed to revoke the club's licence.

Kevin Taylor collapsed and died a few steps outside the club, also known as DeCode, on 7 December after an altercation shortly before 05:00 GMT, as the venue was closing.

Kejuan Malone, aged 32, of Hall Green, Birmingham, was charged with manslaughter and was due to give a plea at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday, but did not do so.

West Midlands Police requested an urgent review of the club's licence following the incident and a temporary closure was imposed on 12 December, pending a full hearing.

That hearing took place on Monday and police licensing officer Jennifer Mellor described the CCTV footage of the incident as "heartbreaking".

In her statement, she said the force believed at least two members of the club's security team were present and witnessed the victim on the pavement.

The police were eventually alerted 25 minutes later when CCTV operators reported seeing a man being given CPR by a member of the public.

She said it appeared staff also did not report the incident to management and did not preserve the scene.

Sgt James Whittaker said: "It was harrowing to witness so many members of the public, which includes door staff, look at Taylor on the floor and not offer any intervention and in most circumstances, stand, stare and take photos and/or videos."

The force said there had been several other alleged incidents involving the club in the months before 7 December.

The licence was transferred to Isaac Cobbinah-Koompong in April 2024 and his legal representative, Duncan Craig, said the conditions on the licence had not been clear or easy to understand.

"This licence, as it stands, is frankly not fit for purpose," he told the licensing committee.

Instead, he proposed a new set of licensing conditions and added: "It just can't be the answer every time something bad happens and somebody has not quite been compliant with the licence that you take the business away."

But Ms Mellor said the force had "tried to engage, explain and encourage with both the premises licence holder and his brother" without success.

"There does become a point where action needs to be taken, especially now given this trigger incident," she said.

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