Your Story: We just cannot rest until David's killer is caught
“KIND and loving” David Weaver was guest at a function in memory of murder victim Lee Wellard when he was snatched from his loving family.
Following the event, fighting broke out involving uninvited guests at the Hare and Hounds pub in Marsh Hill, Stockland Green, on November 21, 2008. Mr Weaver, 45, was trying to act as peacemaker when he was himself attacked. Such was the ferocity of the attack he underwent emergency brain surgery that night, and was left in a coma. After a five-month fight for life, he died on April 26 last year never having fully regained consciousness.
Two weeks ago his grief stricken family told MARK COWAN of their hope and heartache during that time and called on the public to help police catch his killer. Today they share memories of their beloved brother and reveal the enduring pain at his loss.
“Dave had taken us swimming in Newtown,” said Donna Haden as she smiled at the dim and distant memories of her brother David Weaver that were flooding back into her mind.
“We were only young. We had spent our bus fare home but Dave told us he knew a short cut so we all followed him. We ended up walking in the opposite direction and finished up in West Bromwich. We had to go to a police station for help and mum had to come and pick us up.”
The humorous memory of childhood is one of many that the family of Mr Weaver cling to in the dark days after he was brutally killed while trying to break up a fight outside a Birmingham pub.
For five months after the attack, in November 2008, they all desperately clung on to the hope that the 45-year-old would emerge from a coma.
But it wasn’t to be. Three days ago his four sisters and brother, still stricken with grief, marked another tragic milestone – the first anniversary of his death.
Their enduring pain is made worse because no one has been brought to justice for his death.
It is believed people know who did it but are too afraid to come forward and talk to police.
An anonymous call was made to police naming someone, but without an official statement, detectives are unable to press charges.
Senior officers have repeated their message that they can offer protection to brave witnesses prepared to come forward and name names.
In the meantime, all the family are left with are the memories of their beloved brother. They are the memories of a “normal, decent guy” snatched from his family in the most unprovoked, violent and brutal way.
Mr Weaver was a well-known figure on the Wyrley Birch estate where he lived.
The former roofer became an odd job man able to turn his hand to anything.
Mum-of-four Donna, 47, said he would “do anything to help anyone”, whether carrying shopping for elderly neighbours or decorating the homes of hard-up single parents.
His other sister Carole Mina-Gurgis added: “I can’t believe how many people miss him. He was quite a guy and I am amazed he had such an impact on people.”
Looking out over the estate where he lived, she added: “I was surprised at how many people he helped around here that we never knew about but that was him, he didn’t do it for praise. I was flabbergasted when I learned of how many old people he helped to carry their shopping, how many people he’d done a bit of decorating for, how many garden walls he had pointed.”
Such was the affection for the Aston Villa fan, a giant tree that stands outside his flat is now known as David Tree. Friends regularly place flowers and messages there. One friend places a copy of the Villa programme at the foot of the tree after every home game.
Carole said her brother, who adored Princess Diana, loved to go off walking each day and he would visit his mum, who lived nearby, many times a day to make sure she was okay.
Each of his sisters have their own stories of how he was “there for them”, helping them through personal difficulties.
Sister Sheila, a mum-of-one from Kingstanding, said: “He was a protective brother but he was so proud of all of his sisters.
“I knew exactly what he was thinking when I looked at him because we were so close.
“One of my favourite memories of him was when we were young and living in Winson Green and our next door neighbour was a scrap metal dealer. We hid our Easter eggs in the glove compartment of one of the old cars. We all went in for dinner and when we came out our eggs were missing but Dave had chocolate all over his face.”
The family described their five-month ordeal as “absolute torture”. And the past year has remained one filled with heartache. Carole, 48, a mum-of-five, said: “None of us could believe it. No one could understand who would want to hurt Dave, he wouldn’t hurt a fly, he was a peacemaker.
“Life is just empty without him. It is too quiet. It’s like a huge part of you is missing.”
Sheila, whose home is decorated with photographs of her brother, said: “It changed my whole life, it will never be the same again. I still can’t believe my brother has gone. I think I will grieve for the rest of my life.
“I feel hurt, frustration and anger that no one has come forward. If I had seen it happen and not said I anything, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. It’s going to be with them for the rest of their lives just like our pain is.”
Donna said: “For a while, I hated everybody on the earth for what had happened to Dave.
“There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about him and I don’t cry. I found all of his window cleaning stuff that he had left at my house and I just held them and cried. I still think he’s around, I just feel like he is, that he is around us.”
Sheila added: “He loved getting the paper and choosing his horses for a bet. He would have a small £6 gamble each week. After he died, I found a pair of his socks in a drawer here and I found £6 in it.”
She added: “Life’s not the same, because I know David will never be here and that kills me. I’d give anything to hear his voice for just one minute, to feel him hug me. It would mean everything in the world to me but I know it’s never going to happen.”
For Carole there is a daily reminder of the tragedy. She has to pass the spot where he was attacked on her way to work each day.
“Sometimes I’m fine and others it hits me and I come into work crying. I try to remember the happy times but can’t see past what happened and how no one will help us.”
As the days tick by, the family cling to their treasured memories and refuse to give up hope that their brother’s killer will one day be brought to justice.
* If you can help, call West Midlands Police on 0845 113 5000.
