Latest news with #247Kettles
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Jury discharged in £1.38m watch robbery trial
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of conspiring to commit robbery at a jewellery store - a raid after which the shop's manager took his own life. Junior Kunu, 30, was accused along with Mannix Pedro - who was convicted on Wednesday - after watches were taken from the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond, south-west London, on 25 May. The Woolwich Crown Court jury was discharged after deliberating for 28 hours over the case against Mr Kunu. The trial heard the shop's office manager Oliver White - who was tied up and put in a headlock during the robbery - took his own life the next day "as a direct result" of the raid, in which more than 70 high-value watches were taken. Mr Kunu, of Mitcham, had said the robbery was "staged" and everyone involved consented - including 27-year-old Mr White, whom he claimed would have "put up more of a fight" if he had thought the raid was genuine. A date for a preliminary hearing to discuss whether there is to be a retrial has yet to be set. Mr Kunu, who is in custody, was told he does not have to attend that hearing. In a statement, Mr White's mother, Amy Keane, said: "We are all absolutely devastated with the loss of our funny, thoughtful and kind son Oliver; our lives will never be the same and we feel this loss every minute of every day." None of the stolen watches has been recovered or was insured, despite the business being a victim of theft three years earlier, jurors were told. Pedro, 37, of Woking in Surrey, was found guilty on Wednesday of conspiring to commit robbery. Pedro, who was not in the shop on 25 May, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the raid, including the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars, the court heard. Ms Keane added: "I would describe Oliver as a huge character, very warm and a brilliant person. "He lit up the room when he entered it and was incredibly kind and caring; he would go above and beyond for anyone. "We know Oliver to be trustworthy and honest. "Given the jury have convicted a man of planning and organising the robbery of Oliver, we take this as vindication of our firmly held belief he played no role in this offence and was not implicated in any involvement." Watch raid staged and shop boss knew, court told Man denies being getaway driver in £1m watch raid Co-owner denies thinking £1.4m theft was inside job Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
21-02-2025
- BBC News
Richmond: Jury discharged in £1.38m watch robbery trial
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of conspiring to commit robbery at a jewellery store - a raid after which its manager took his own Kunu, 30, was accused along with Mannix Pedro - who was convicted on Wednesday - after watches were taken from the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond, south-west London, on 25 Woolwich Crown Court jury was discharged after deliberating for 28 hours over the case against Mr trial heard that the shop's office manager Oliver White - who was tied up and put in a headlock during the robbery - took his own life the next day "as a direct result" of the raid, in which more than 70 high-value watches were taken. Mr Kunu, of Mitcham, had said the robbery was "staged" and everyone involved consented - including 27-year-old Mr White, whom he claimed would have "put up more of a fight" if he had thought the raid was genuine.A date for a preliminary hearing to discuss whether there is to be a retrial has yet to be Kunu, who is in custody, was told he does not have to attend that of the stolen watches has been recovered or was insured, despite the business being a victim of theft three years earlier, jurors were 37, of Woking in Surrey, was found guilty on Wednesday of conspiring to commit who was not in the shop on 25 May, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the raid, including the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars, the court heard.
Sky News
19-02-2025
- Sky News
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.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Man guilty over £1.38m watch heist in London
A man has been been found guilty of conspiring to commit robbery after watches worth £1.38m were stolen from a south-west London jewellery store. Mannix Pedro, 37, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the robbery from 247 Kettles in Richmond on 25 May last year, Woolwich Crown Court heard. The store's office manager Oliver White, 27, took his life the following day "as a direct result" of the raid, jurors were previously told. The jury found Pedro, from Surrey, guilty after more than 23 hours of deliberation. A second defendant, Junior Kunu, 30, from Mitcham in south-west London, remains on trial charged with the same offence. Prosecutors argued 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. None of the watches stolen in the robbery were recovered and none were insured, despite the business being a victim of theft three years earlier, jurors were previously told. Mr Kunu's trial resumes on Friday. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to HM Courts & Tribunals Service
BBC News
19-02-2025
- BBC News
Richmond watch robbery: Mannix Pedro found guilty
A man has been been found guilty of conspiring to commit robbery after watches worth £1.38m were stolen from a south-west London jewellery Pedro, 37, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the robbery from 247 Kettles in Richmond on 25 May last year, Woolwich Crown Court store's office manager Oliver White, 27, took his life the following day "as a direct result" of the raid, jurors were previously told.A jury found Pedro, from Surrey, guilty after more than 23 hours of deliberation. A second defendant, Junior Kunu, 30, from Mitcham in south-west London, remains on trial charged with the same offence. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
