'Utterly senseless' murder of two Big Issue sellers

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Communities and also in Featured, Legal

The murders of two Big Issue sellers in the centre of Birmingham have been condemned as "utterly senseless" by the magazine's founder, John Bird.

Wayne Lee Busst, 32, and Ian Watson Gladwish, 31, were both fatally stabbed in front of pedestrians at around 6pm on Friday night.

Police and passers-by tried to give the men first aid but both died at the scene.

A 23-year-old man was arrested minutes after the attacks and remains in police custody.

Mr Bird, who founded the street newspaper in 1991, said: "Myself and everyone at The Big Issue has been deeply saddened to hear the tragic news that two of our well-liked Birmingham based vendors were stabbed to death in the city centre yesterday evening. We are struggling to make any sense of this utterly senseless attack, and our sincerest condolences go out to the families of the victims.

"This awful crime, perpetrated against two hard working, mild mannered men, only serves to illustrate the extreme vulnerability of people who live and work on the streets. Which is why we at The Big Issue are constantly striving to create opportunities which will help our vendors to get off the streets and out of harm's way."

One of the men was found outside a Sainsbury’s store in Martineau Place in the city centre whilst the other was found a few yards away outside a Boots store in Union Street.

Both of the victims were from Birmingham.

Detective Inspector Buck Rogers, who is leading the investigation into the deaths, said: "We have had a fantastic response from the public so far and their information has proved vital to our investigation.

"Early enquiries suggest that this wasn’t random. The attacker appears to have known his victims.

"Our enquiries continue and if there is anyone who saw something on Friday evening and hasn’t yet come forward we urge them to call us now on 101."