Olly Stephens Murder Trial: Day Two
A teenager allegedly boasted that his friend “shanked” the 13-year-old boy following his death after being “lured” to a park in Reading
Last updated 29th Jun 2021
Oliver Stephens, known as Olly, was killed at Bugs Bottom field in Emmer Green in Reading, on January 3 this year, after being lured there by a girl, jurors at Reading Crown court were told.
The alleged attackers left Olly with stab wounds to the chest and back after a short scuffle at the scene.
It was said that “deliberate steps” were taken to remove “incriminating evidence” after the incident took place.
The two boys, who are now 14, deny murder and are on trial at Reading Crown Court.
The girl, also 14, and the older one of the two boys on trial, have both admitted manslaughter.
None of the three can be named for legal reasons.
On Tuesday the court was told the boys tried to get rid of “incriminating evidence”.
Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, said: “Deliberate steps were taken in the aftermath of the incident.
“These include the defendants searching on the internet for Reading stabbing, separating from each other after the event, and communicating with each other about the disposal of clothing and phone data.
“They were aware of what they had done and looked to get rid of incriminating evidence.”
The jurors were told the older boy could be heard by a witness talking to someone on the phone, saying “man, I need your advice”.
In voice messages sent to a friend, which were played to the court, the older boy could be heard saying “you probably won’t see me for a long time” and “something serious has happened”.
The older boy also told another person to delete his number from their phone, it was said.
Jurors were told that they made an attempt to hide their clothing hours after the alleged attack took place.
Police later found “bloodstained” items belonging to the younger boy in a plastic bag hidden in an “overgrown area”, the court heard.
Ms Morgan said: “This is a clear attempt to dispose of evidence that would have linked them to the attack.”
Messages
Jurors were also told how the boys “encouraged” others to search local news following the incident.
The court heard that the older boy messaged a friend: “Me and my boy slapped him up but my boy backed out and **** shanked him.”
Ms Morgan said: “There was no sign of any regret and no suggestion he was in any way shocked.”
Other messages sent by the older boy spoke of Olly being “m’d off”.
Ms Morgan said he was “showing off” and was “proud”, while he lied to friends about being chased by armed police in messages sent to them.
The younger boy also told a female friend in a message “it was the biggest mistake of my life” and he carried out the alleged attack “out of pure anger”.
Ms Morgan said: “(Younger boy) is accepting responsibility fully, he did it out of pure anger, suggesting (older boy) had been part of the set-up, wanting to ‘bang’ Olly Stephens.”
Jurors were told a woman who was at the scene had described in a witness statement how she heard Olly shouting, swearing and “gesticulating” towards the boys.
Ms Morgan said: “She described some kind of confrontation in which a boy in black could be seen swinging his arms in a clenched fist at Olly.
“Olly then retaliated with a fist coming back at the boy, which was more of an uppercut.
“The boy then swung back at Olly, making contact with the right side of his face.”
She then heard a metallic sound as if metal hit something hard, and the fight just stopped and everyone disappeared.”
The trial is being held in special circumstances, with counsel removing their wigs and gowns due to the defendants’ ages.
The younger boy also denies two counts of perverting the course of justice.
The older boy denies one charge of the same offence, and has pleaded guilty to another.
The trial continues.