Shop manager took his own life after watches worth £1.38m stolen, court told
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The manager of a jewellers took his own life “as a direct result” of a robbery in which he was tied up while watches worth more than £1.38 million were stolen, a court has heard. Junior Kunu, 30, and Mannix Pedro, 37, went on trial at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday charged with conspiring with others to commit the robbery.
More than 70 “high value” watches were taken from the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond, south-west London, on May 25 last year, the jury was told. Opening the case, prosecutor Edward Brown KC said office manager Oliver White, 27, had been “tied up” during the robbery.
“There was, however, a postscript to this robbery – and a truly tragic postscript,” he said. “The following day, therefore May 26, Oliver White – as a direct result of the robbery – took his own life.”. Mr Brown told the court the defendants played different roles in the plot, with Kunu having entered the premises to carry out the robbery, while Pedro, who did not attend the shop on May 25, was “closely involved in the planning and execution”, including the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars.
Two other men, Michael Ashman and Kyle Bowrage, are alleged to have been involved in the conspiracy – both of whom are believed to have fled the country, Mr Brown added. Mr White was first contacted by the conspirators through Instagram and then later on WhatsApp about three months before the robbery, the prosecution said.
