Latest news with #Kunu
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.
The Independent
13-02-2025
- The Independent
Jury retires in trial over £1.38m watch raid that ‘led man to kill himself'
The jury has retired to consider its verdicts in the trial of two men allegedly involved in a £1.38 million robbery that may have led a jewellery store manager to kill himself. Junior Kunu, 30, and Mannix Pedro, 37, are charged with conspiring with others to commit the robbery after watches were stolen from a south-west London jewellery store last year. Office manager Oliver White, 27, took his own life the next day 'as a direct result' of the robbery, jurors were told. Kunu and Pedro are on trial at Woolwich Crown Court but at least two others said to have been involved are at large. More than 70 'high-value' watches were taken from the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond on May 25, the court heard. Mr White's witness statement, given to police after the alleged attack, was read to the court. He said that on May 25 two men entered Kettles and 'their body language was completely relaxed and there was nothing that made me suspect anything'. Mr White said he was put in a headlock and could not move as they took the watches, and his skin was left reddened. Pedro, who did not attend the shop on May 25, was 'closely involved in the planning and execution', including the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars, the court heard. Kunu, of Mitcham, south-west London, and Pedro, of Woking, Surrey, deny the charges. The trial continues.
