Murder trial hears Reading schoolboy Olly Stephens was 'lured to his death' by teenage attackers
Mel Bloor reports from Reading Crown Court on the first day of the trial.
A jury has been told how a 13-year-old schoolboy was lured to his death by a teenage girl before being stabbed in a planned attack by two boys and left for dead.
Reading Crown Court heard that Olly Stephens suffered stab wounds to the chest and back after he was ambushed by the pair at Bugs Bottom in Emmer Green on January the 3rd this year.
Both alleged attackers were said to have had “grievances” with Olly.
The two boys, who are now 14, deny murder.
The girl, also 14, and one of the boys have both admitted manslaughter.
None of the three can be named for legal reasons.
Opening the prosecution case, Alison Morgan QC said: “(The girl) lured Olly to the location of the attack, in a place called Bugs Bottom, and she lured him to allow the attack to be carried out by the two defendants.
“The attack had been planned by the defendants in the days leading up to the attack.
“The defendants were motivated by perceived grievances with Olly.
“At least one of the two of them had a knife with them.
“They carried out a joint attack, during the course of which one of the two of them used the knife they were carrying to stab Olly – once to the chest and once to the back.”
Ms Morgan said the defendants then fled the scene before getting rid of incriminating evidence, such as mobile phone data and clothes worn during the attack.
She said the younger boy, who was 13 at the time, used a knife to stab Olly, but that the older boy must have known he was carrying the weapon.
The prosecutor said the girl was also present at the scene during the attack.
She said: “Putting it bluntly, Olly was ambushed by these defendants.
“He was physically attacked by (the two boys) and with (the girl) standing by, lending assistance by her presence.
“There were others who were also present but did not play a significant role in the attack.”
The trial is being held in special circumstances, with counsel removing their wigs and gowns due to the defendants’ ages.
The trial continues.