LUCA DE FAZIO FROM BIRMINGHAM CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE SERIOUS OFFENCES AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON

Luca De Fazio, a 20-year-old man from Station Road in Stechford, Birmingham, has found himself back in the criminal justice spotlight following a series of serious allegations. Despite having previously been cleared of murder, De Fazio was recently arrested by West Midlands Police and subsequently charged with a range of grave offences, including an incident of glassing a woman, grievous bodily harm, and various drug-related crimes. The charges come after police received the necessary authorization from the Crown Prosecution Service to proceed with the case.

Following his arrest, De Fazio was released on bail, but the conditions attached to his release are strict, and he remains under police supervision. The timing of these new allegations is particularly troubling, as they emerged within just a few weeks of his release from prison. It is important to note that De Fazio had recently served a short sentence after admitting to carrying a knife, a conviction linked to the high-profile murder of taxi driver Mohammed Istakhar in 2022.

Although De Fazio was acquitted of the murder charge in July 2023, evidence from CCTV footage painted a different picture. The footage showed De Fazio, along with co-defendant Oliver Pugh, chasing the victim down a street before the taxi was stripped of its signage and abandoned. During the trial, De Fazio admitted to possessing a blade, which resulted in a one-month prison sentence. Meanwhile, Pugh was convicted of murder and received a longer custodial sentence.

In May 2024, police launched a public appeal via Facebook to locate De Fazio after a violent incident outside the Arcadian nightclub in Birmingham city centre. The attack was described as racially and homophobically motivated, involving multiple victims and causing significant distress. The police described the incident as “deeply distressing” and appealed to the public for assistance in locating De Fazio. Despite the widespread appeal, De Fazio remained at large for several months before his recent arrest.

Now, De Fazio faces a new set of serious charges, including allegations of sexual offences against a woman, an assault causing grievous bodily harm, and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply. The police have stated that these allegations were uncovered through separate investigations. Victims involved in these incidents are currently receiving support from specialist officers trained to handle such cases. The case continues to develop as authorities work to bring justice for all those affected.