Birmingham firework murder: £20,000 reward and new CCTV revealed under fresh appeal
56 year old Tony Nicholls was killed following a fire which broke out in his home after fireworks were set off in the hallway
It’s been eight years since the murder of Tony Nicholls, and today West Midlands Police are releasing new CCTV to coincide with the launch of a £20,000 Crimestoppers reward as the force appeals for the public’s help in bringing his killers to justice.
Tony was seriously injured when a group of people burst into his Tile Cross house and set off an industrial-sized firework in the hallway at around 11.20pm on 2 November, 2017.
The firework is thought to have contained around 200 tubes of explosives which gutted the open plan living accommodation.
The 56-year-old was taken to hospital following the blaze in Birchtrees Drive but died five days later.
Five men aged 31, 30, 23, 22 and 19 - along with a 19-year-old woman - were previously arrested on suspicion of murder and released under investigation.
West Midlands Police suspect the answers lie within the local community and are urging anyone with information to come forward and give Tony’s family closure.
Speaking eight years after his death, Tony's daughter Fiona Nicholls said today: “My dad was my everything. He was funny, witty, and he worked hard all his life.
“The last eight years have been hell. I relive it every day. Every bonfire night, I'm anxious, it just brings back trauma of what happened to my dad. It's horrible, I live a nightmare every day.
“I need anyone with information to come forward. They need to do the right thing. They know something, and they've got to come forward and tell the police what they know.
“I need the answers, and justice for me and my dad."
Today the West Midlands police force are releasing never before seen CCTV showing the group approaching Tony’s house and running away moments later.
A firework can be seen shooting out of the property before the blaze which claimed his life took hold.
Those investigating are also releasing more images showing the firework which caused the deadly fire, and the devastating damage to his house.
Det Supt Jim Munro, from our Homicide team, said: “You can see from the size of the firework that it was always going to cause significant damage if let off indoors.
“The firework is called a Colossus Finale 600 Series. It's industrial-sized and unusual, and we still believe someone out there may have information about where it came from.
“It’s hard to imagine just how awful Tony’s final moments must have been, and we are determined to get justice for him and his family.
“We are releasing these new images now as we know that over time, allegiances can change. People who didn’t feel willing or able to speak up at the time may now feel very differently.
“We want to show just how callous an act this was and for the people responsible, or those who know who was responsible, to examine their conscience.
“We have received information and intelligence about the attack in the years since it happened but have so far been unable to charge anyone.
“I want that to change today. If you have information about what happened, or who was responsible, get in touch.
“It may be that you feel what you know is not significant, but it could be the piece of information we need to finally get justice for Tony.”