Sister pledges to get justice for boy killed in knife attack
13-year-old ‘lured into trap’ at park beauty spot near his family’s home
THE sister of a boy of 13 who was stabbed to death in a country park yesterday vowed to ‘get justice’.
Olly Stephens died at the beauty spot near his family’s four-bedroom home in a leafy Berkshire suburb.
Rumours were circulating yesterday that the teenager had been l ured i nto a trap in a disastrous attempt to ‘teach him a lesson’. A girl and four boys aged 13 and 14 were in custody last night on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
Olly’s sister Emilia, 16, posted on Instagram: ‘I’m so sorry I failed you, I wish I could have saved you from it all. We will get justice for you my angel.’
Officers were called just before 4pm on Sunday after reports of a stabbing in Bugs Bottom fields in Emmer Green, two miles north of Reading city centre.
Witnesses said passers-by tried to revive Olly while they waited for paramedics. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The park is only 250 yards from the £670,000 home Olly shared with his sister, mother Amanda, who works in HR, and father Stuart, both aged 51.
Parents outside Highdown School, where Olly had been due to rejoin his classmates tomorrow morning, described the killing as ‘utterly senseless’.
Several bouquets of flowers were laid, with one card reading: ‘Dearest Olly, Taken way too soon, you were such a lovely lad. Loved by many. Thinking and sending love to your family at this sad time.’
Head teacher Rachel Cave said staff and students had been left ‘reeling’ by the death of the popular pupil. In a statement, she said: ‘For a life to be ended at such a young age is a total tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
‘ Many have been deeply affected by this tragedy.’
A young girl who knew Olly at primary school said he had been ‘a big rugby fan’ who had played in the school team.
She added: ‘At his last primary school play he was Gaston from Beauty and the Beast.
‘He had a lot of friends and was a kind and compassionate boy.’
Police were guarding a large cordon around the crime scene yesterday, with forensics officers using a small tent.
Matt Rodda, Labour MP for Reading East, told of his shock at the killing as he went to the scene yesterday. He said: ‘This is a very quiet area.’
One man, who declined to give his name, said his wife was walk
‘So sorry that I failed you’
ing their dog through the park when she saw a boy on the ground with several people gathered around.
They were trying to give him first aid and the boy’s face was ‘very white’, his wife told him.
Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown of Thames Valley Police said: ‘This remains a very active investigation and a large scene-watch remains in place.
‘We have arrested five young people in connection with this tragic incident, but I’d urge anybody who has any information surrounding what happened to please make contact.’