“ALL the best, Olly!”
Those were the warm words a family friend of Olly Stephens wished him just minutes before he was stabbed.
Barry Hunter, a witness called to speak Olly Stephens’ murder trial, said the 13-year-old had a smile on his face in the moments before he was fatally attacked at Bugs Bottom on January 3, 2021.
Mr Hunter, who had been a family friend of the Stephens for more than 20 years, said Olly recognised him when he was walking around Bugs Bottom with his dog.
The witness said he spotted Olly with the girl prosecutor Alison Morgan QC described as being the one who ‘lured’ Olly to his death earlier in the trial.
READ MORE: Witnesses describe final moments before Olly Stephens stabbing
The girl, who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, is not standing trial. Two teenage boys are in the dock accused of Olly's murder.
Mr Hunter was one of a number of witnesses who either appeared or had statements read out at Reading Crown Court on the fifth day of the trial.
One man, named as Miles Gallagher, described walking into Bugs Bottom on January 3 and walking past three teenagers -- two boys and the girl.
He said one of the boys looked at him with a 'what are you looking at’ type-stare.
The girl was described as skipping along and ‘lapping up’ the attention of the two boys.
READ MORE: Movements of teens accused of murdering Olly Stephens before and after stabbing revealed
On his way around the field, he later came across a woman standing still who told him to turn back because a boy had collapsed.
Being an ex-lifeguard, he ran towards the scene to see if he could assist.
But by the time he got to Olly, a woman was giving the 13-year-old CPR and he was told an ambulance had been called.
He waited and watched at the scene until he spotted Olly’s father and sister running towards him.
Another witness, Francisco, had a statement read out at court.
He said he saw Olly Stephens on the afternoon of the incident in Bugs Bottom with the girl and a boy.
READ MORE: Teen girl asked why she was 'so scared' in Olly Stephens 'set up'
He started his walk around Bugs Bottom at 3.30pm and 20 minutes later he saw Olly being resuscitated at the top of hill.
The boy he had spotted with Olly would then run towards Olly’s house to call for his father to alert him of the incident.
One other witness was called into court on Friday (July 2) -- Ms Natasha Grant.
She had been walking in Bugs Bottom with a friend and her children when she noticed two youngsters walking towards the bench she was sitting at.
She claimed she heard one of them say “they [the other group of teenagers] are at the other bench.”
READ MORE: The Berkshire criminals locked up in June
The boys were then joined by two other boys, who prosecutor Denis Barry claimed were the defendants.
Ms Grant said these two boys were “trying not to draw attention to themselves” as their faces were “really covered.”
More witnesses are set to be called when the trial resumes on Tuesday, July 6.
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