Oliver White: Man convicted over £1.38m robbery that 'led to store manager ending his own life'
A man has been found guilty of conspiring to commit a £1.38m watch robbery that prosecutors said led to the manager of the jewellery shop taking his own life.
Oliver White, 27, was tied up and put a headlock during the raid at the 247 Kettles store in Richmond, southwest London, in May last year, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
Mr White was said to be "extremely upset" after the incident and took his own life the next day "as a direct result" of the robbery, prosecutors said.
A jury has now found Mannix Pedro, 37, guilty of being "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the raid.
The jury gave a majority verdict of 10 to one after more than 23 hours of deliberation.
More than 70 "high-value" watches were taken - none of which were insured despite the business being a victim of theft three years prior, jurors were told.
None of the watches have been recovered.
Pedro did not go into the shop during the robbery but instead organised the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars, prosecutors said.
A second man - Junior Kunu, 30, from Mitcham, southwest London - remains on trial charged with the same offence.
The trial resumes on Friday.
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No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In his defence, Paterson claimed six different men could have carried out the murder, including the drug dealer who Gerbil had met before his death. During both trials, evidence was heard from ordinary members of the public caught up in the shooting. Shopper Emma Busby, 35, said: 'I thought it was like another Dunblane massacre. I kept hearing the sound of a baby crying.' 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