Olly Stephens murder trial: What we learned from week one

The prosecution told the jury about the moments leading up to Olly’s death in Bugs Bottom fields on January 3, 2021.

They also revealed the testimonies of witnesses who saw a group of teenagers in Emmer Green on the afternoon of the incident.

READ MORE: Why we can't name the two teenage boys accused of murdering Olly Stephens

As well as this, the court heard voice clips from the defendants, saw CCTV footage of them before and after Olly’s death, and learned more about what happened in the days before Olly was stabbed.

With the jury not being called into Reading Crown Court today (Monday, July 5), we have put together a round up of what has happened so far in the trial.

The case is set to resume tomorrow (July 6).

Monday, June 28.

Prosecution counsel Alison Morgan QC began the trial on Monday, June 28 by claiming Olly Stephens was “lured” to an ‘ambush’ at Bugs Bottom by a teenage girl.

Ms Morgan said: “[Olly] was attacked and stabbed by the defendants in a park near his home.

“The defendants arranged to attack Olly Stephens with a girl. She lured Olly to the location of the attack at Bugs Bottom.

“The attack had been planned by the defendants in the days leading up to January 3. They were motivated by grievances they had with Olly.”

“At least one of them had a knife with them. They carried out a joint attack and used the knife to stab Olly in the chest and in the back.

“They fled the scene and would seek to dispose of incriminating messages on their phones before they were arrested by the police.”

The court was played voice clips and videos of the defendants in the days before the incident and was also shown text messages from the duo.

Messages which “demonstrated hostility” towards Olly were first sent up to two weeks before he was killed, Ms Morgan said.

This came after one of the defendants accused Olly of “snaking” him, causing him to develop a “grievance” against Olly.

One teenager, who has not been charged but who was involved in the planning of the meeting, said to one of the defendants they felt they felt like they were “part of a murder team”.

In another voice recording from one of the defendants, he says 'I hate that kid [Olly Stephens] with a passion. If I was to see him right now I would end up killing him.'

READ MORE: Everything from day one of the Olly Stephens murder trial

Tuesday, June 29

On the second day of the trial, the jury heard how “deliberate steps” were taken by the defendants to get rid of “incriminating evidence.”

Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, said: "Deliberate steps were taken in the aftermath of the incident.

"These include the defendants searching on the internet for Reading stabbing, separating from each other after the event, and communicating with each other about the disposal of clothing and phone data.

"They were aware of what they had done and looked to get rid of incriminating evidence."

In voice messages sent to a friend, which were played to the court, the older boy could be heard saying "you probably won't see me for a long time" and "something serious has happened".

Police later found "bloodstained" items belonging to the younger boy in a plastic bag hidden in an "overgrown area", the court heard.

Jurors were also told how the boys "encouraged" others to search local news following the incident.

The court heard that the older boy messaged a friend: "Me and my boy slapped him up but my boy backed out and f****** shanked him."

Ms Morgan said: "There was no sign of any regret and no suggestion he was in any way shocked."

Jurors were told a woman who was at the scene had described in a witness statement how she heard Olly shouting, swearing and "gesticulating" towards the boys.

She then heard a metallic sound as if metal hit something hard, and the fight just stopped and everyone disappeared.

READ MORE: Everything from day two of the Olly Stephens murder trial

Wednesday, June 30

Defence representatives for the two defendants got a chance to speak at Reading Crown Court on the third day of the trial.

According to BerkshireLive, defense counsel Thomas Godfrey said: “The purpose was for [the older boy] and Olly to have a one-on-one fist fight.

“[The younger boy] then stabbed Olly twice. This was totally unexpected for [the older boy].”

Defence counsel Timothy Raggett QC, representing the younger boy, added: “He agrees he had a knife with him. It was only ever to be used in defence if at all. He at no stage intended to kill Olly or cause him really serious harm."

Thursday, July 1

Prosecution counsel was back on their feet on day four of the trial setting out the evidence in more forensic detail.

Footage played in court showed the two defendants meeting for the first time that day more than an hour before Olly Stephens was attacked.

Recordings also showed the duo riding away from the scene on an e-scooter and their movements as the evening went on.

This is the last sighting of the two defendants before a 999 call is made from Bugs Bottom -- where Olly died -- at 3.46pm by a boy who was part of the group but not one of the defendants.

A minute later the boys are spotted riding away from Bugs Bottom on their e-scooter before being spotted on Hemdean Road at 3.48pm.

Five minutes later, the boy who made the 999 call and Olly’s father are spotted running from the latter’s house towards Bugs Bottom -- Olly had been spotted walking from this location just 19 minutes earlier.

Just after 6pm CCTV footage shows the younger defendant heading towards London Road having changed clothes and with a bag in his hand.

READ MORE: Everything from day four of the Olly Stephens murder trial

Friday, July 2

Witness statements were read to the jury on day five of the trial last week.

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.

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.

Another witness, Francisco, had a statement read out at court.

READ MORE: Everything from day five of the Olly Stephens murder trial

He said he saw Olly Stephens on the afternoon of the incident in Bugs Bottom with the girl and a boy.

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.

The trial is set to continue tomorrow (Tuesday, July 6).