Two boys and a girl aged 13 and 14 appear in court accompanied by their mothers to face murder charge after 13-year-old Olly Stephens was stabbed to death in a field near Reading
- A 13-year-old girl and two boys, aged 13 and 14 have been charged with murder
- Teenagers also been charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm
- Olly Stephens, 13, was found dead near his family home in Berkshire on Sunday
- The trio are all set to appear in Reading Crown Court later this afternoon
Three teenagers charged with the murder of a 13-year-old boy who was stabbed to death have been remanded into custody today.
Olly Stephens was found stabbed in a park just 250 yards from his home in Reading on Sunday afternoon.
Today two boys and a girls, all aged 13 and 14, who cannot be named because of their age, stood before Reading Magistrates’ Court to face charges of murder and conspiracy to commit GBH.
The girl was also charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard how she allegedly deleted information from her mobile phone and encouraged others to delete information from their mobile phones too.
The trio, who were all accompanied by their mothers, were warned that their charges are so serious they would carry a sentence of 14 years behind bars if they were adults.
The three teenagers have been charged with the murder of Olly Stephens who died at a beauty spot near his family’s home
Police officers at the fields backing onto Reading Golf Club in Emmer Green, Berkshire
Floral tributes left outside Highdown School in Emmer Green, where Olly attended
Emergency services rushed to an open green space in Emmer Green, near Reading, Berks, at around 4pm on Sunday after reports of a stabbing.
The park is popular with dog walkers, joggers and families.
Despite the efforts of paramedics, Olly was pronounced dead at the scene.
The park is only 250 yards from the home Olly shared with his sister, mother Amanda, who works in HR, and father Stuart, both aged 51.
This week, Olly’s parents, Amanda and Stewart, and older sister Emilia, mourned their ‘hilariously funny, charming and beautiful’ loved one in a moving tribute.
In a statement issued through police, Olly’s family described the youngster as ‘an enigma’ who ‘could get his own way with a wry smile and a cheeky grin’.
They said: ‘An Olly-sized hole has been left in our hearts.’
Reading the charge, the court’s legal advisor said: ‘A matter that on January 3, with intent to pervert the course of justice, namely deleted information from your mobile phone and encouraged others to delete information from their mobile phones.’
The three youths appeared separately and spoke only to confirm their names, addresses, and dates of birth.
The girl and one boy were accompanied by their mothers.
Police survey the area as forensic tents were set up at Bugs Bottom in Emmer Green
All three teenagers were remanded into youth detention accommodation until a bail hearing at Reading Crown Court this afternoon.
Members of the press sat in a separate court room and listened in to the hearing via a video link but the defendants could not be seen.