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Your storiesYou are in: Berkshire > People > Your stories > "We got justice" ![]() Robert Spence pendant "We got justice"Three men have been found guilty of killing Robert Spence, a teenager who was acting as a peacemaker in a fight in Reading on 2 May 2008. Watch reactions from the family and DCI Gilmour. BBC South Today's Ben Moore spoke exclusively to mum Sandra Blake and sister Marcia Blake. Watch the video here: Help playing audio/video Watch a video of Robert Spence's father Paul Spence after the verdict: Help playing audio/video Watch a video of DCI Stan Gilmour after the verdict: Help playing audio/video "We're very happy, we got justice today. It won't bring Junior back, but I'm glad we got justice. It's indescribable how I'm feeling." The words of Sandra Blake, the mother of murdered teenager Robert Spence from Burghfield Common, who was stabbed in Reading town centre in May 2008. ![]() Robert Spence Three men from Bristol were convicted of murder and attempted murder on Tuesday 14 April 2009. A fourth was cleared at Reading Crown Court. Nicholas Olu, 30, Leon Wilson, 32, and David Brooks, 33, who denied murder and attempted murder and will be sentenced later. Carlton Miles, 28, was found not guilty of both charges. Halfway through the trial, on 20 March, Jamal Powell, 28, was acquitted of all charges and released by Judge Zoe Smith. Robert's sister Marcia said: "We're going to try and do something for Junior to remember him, and we're just very happy with the verdict. "It has taken a long time but it's the right result, so we're very thankful." DI Dennis Burke, Crown Prosecution Service, said: "We've heard daily these harrowing tales of what knife-crime can do and the tragic results of that. ![]() Marcia and Sandra Blake "Today something has happened, we've had convictions. But nothing I can say, nothing the court can do, nothing the police can investigate, will ever bring back this boy to his family and indeed to his mother, whose been at the court daily showing considerable fortitude." Detective Chief Inspector Stan Gilmour said: "I'm pleased for the family, it's been a difficult time, they've been in court, listening to what's been going on throughout the trial. They've got some measure of closure today. "They are happy with the result. It's been a long and detailed investigation and a long and detailed trial, and we've heard the result today and I think we can be satisfied that justice has been done." The backgroundRobert Spence, Junior to his family and friends, from Burghfield Common was a 17-year-old on a night out in Reading when he was stabbed to death on Saturday 2 May 2008. CCTV showed him using a fake ID to get into Bar Mango in Hosier Street in Reading. Fifty minutes later a group from Bristol - including his killer Nicholas Olu - arrived in two cars and went into the same club. ![]() CCTV footage of Robert Spence entering Bar Mango Robert left a club in Reading with six friends on 2 May 2008 when one of the group got into a fight. He tried to intervene but he and friend Emmanuel Connor, 23, were stabbed when a fresh row erupted with another group. As people are leaving at around 4am CCTV cameras pick up a commotion in the street. It's in the distance but zooming in you can see a figure in white making slashing movements downwards over a person, who is believed to be Robert. It was this CCTV footage that was key to the prosecution case. Robert had 16 wounds to his body. The one that killed him went through his heart. Read the full BBC News story here: DCI Stan Gilmour "Carrying a knife does end in tragedy, there's no way around that. "You carry knives for one reason only and that's to kill somebody, and we've seen how that can happen so quickly. "So hopefully it will send a message, we will pursue anyone who commits this kind of offence and we will bring them to justice." last updated: 15/04/2009 at 08:29 SEE ALSOYou are in: Berkshire > People > Your stories > "We got justice" |
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