Olly Stephens Murder Trial: Older defendant gives evidence
The older of the two boys accused of murder has been having his say at Reading Crown Court.
Last updated 14th Jul 2021
A boy has described the moment Olly Stephens was stabbed to death in Reading.
The older of two boys accused of murder was giving evidence at Reading Crown Court.
Answering questions from his defence counsel Rossano Scarmardella QC he confirmed he was 14 at the time of the incident on 3 Jan 2021.
He told the court he'd known his younger co-defendant since the summer of 2019 and once considered him his best friend, he'd got to know Olly at the end of 2019 and said tehy were friends.
He denied evidence from his co-defendant that he'd shared an interest in knives and when asked about images of him with knives and talking about stabbing people he said they made him look "really bad" and "stupid".
He said he'd just wanted "big himself up" and "make an image of himself".
He told the court he fell out with Olly over something that Ollie posted that he felt had put him in danger from someone's brother who had a bad reputation "thought I'd get stabbed" he said.
He said he wanted to meet Olly for a one to one fist fight to 'pattern him' - street slang for forcing him into an apology as a way of humiliation.
He was going to ask the girl, who has admitted manslaughter, to get Olly ‘to come out’ (meet him).
The younger defendant was to come with him and be a witness.
Asked about a message in which he said “I’ll end up killing him (Olly) because he’s getting on my nerves” - he said he didn't mean it and only did so 'to big myself up' to the girl involved in the incident.
In the early hours of the day Olly was stabbed he admitted trading insults with him on social media.
He told his friendship circle it was his fight and his alone, and he claimed he didn't ask the younger boy to bring a knife to the fight and didn't know he had one with him.
Bugs Bottom
On the day of the fight he described meeting the girl involved in the case and three boys who he knew at Emmer Green recreation ground - as they walked to Bugs Bottom he says he became worried that he was being double-crossed and it might be him that would be 'set up'. He considered backing out.
Eventually they met up with Olly and the fist fight started - he says Olly started to get the better of him and the younger defendant who'd been standing to one side "completely lost it and turned red and a bit shaky and he then pulled out a knife and ran towards Olly and stabbed him."
Asked where the knife went in he said "I thought it was his stomach", and said Olly put his hand to his stomach and said to the younger one " you stabbed me" he says the younger one froze for a moment and then stabbed him again.
Read the younger defendant's account here
The younger boy then told him to get on the e-scooter and they left Bugs Bottom.
The older defendant says as they did he called the younger one a “dickhead” for stabbing Olly and asking him why he did it.
He says he asked to be dropped off in Caversham and then met up with some friends saying he felt "shocked"and "panicked" by what had happened.
He confirmed he had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and repeated that he'd not intended for any weapons to be used and for no serious harm to come to Olly.
Both boys deny murder and the trial continues.