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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pair guilty in river murder case | Pair guilty in river murder case |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two men have been convicted of the murder of a teenager who was beaten and thrown into a Bedfordshire river. | Two men have been convicted of the murder of a teenager who was beaten and thrown into a Bedfordshire river. |
| Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington were convicted of the murder of 17-year-old Robert Gill who was found in the River Great Ouse near Bedford. | Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington were convicted of the murder of 17-year-old Robert Gill who was found in the River Great Ouse near Bedford. |
| At Luton Crown Court, Downes, 18, of Acacia Road and Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, both Bedford, had denied a charge of murder. | At Luton Crown Court, Downes, 18, of Acacia Road and Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, both Bedford, had denied a charge of murder. |
| Attackers led him to the river and used him "as a punch bag", the jury heard. | Attackers led him to the river and used him "as a punch bag", the jury heard. |
| A youth of 16, who cannot be named, was convicted of manslaughter, robbery and false imprisonment. | A youth of 16, who cannot be named, was convicted of manslaughter, robbery and false imprisonment. |
| Sean Downes and Thomas Luddington were found guilty of murder | |
| Downes and Luddington were also convicted of charges of robbery and false imprisonment. | Downes and Luddington were also convicted of charges of robbery and false imprisonment. |
| Robert Gill was an engineering student who was on a night out with his brother when he was attacked in Bedford two days after Christmas. | Robert Gill was an engineering student who was on a night out with his brother when he was attacked in Bedford two days after Christmas. |
| Police divers recovered his body eight days later. | Police divers recovered his body eight days later. |
| Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the three had behaved like "predators, picking on their prey". | Timothy Spencer QC, for the prosecution, said the three had behaved like "predators, picking on their prey". |
| Robert had been drinking in a nightclub with his brother, but was attacked shortly after leaving the club. | Robert had been drinking in a nightclub with his brother, but was attacked shortly after leaving the club. |
| They had demanded the pin number to his debit card but became angry when it would not allow them to take out any money. | They had demanded the pin number to his debit card but became angry when it would not allow them to take out any money. |
| He was then subjected to a savage attack, punched and kicked to the body before going into the water. | He was then subjected to a savage attack, punched and kicked to the body before going into the water. |
| Judge John Bevan QC adjourned sentence until September for reports to be completed on the three accused. | Judge John Bevan QC adjourned sentence until September for reports to be completed on the three accused. |
| After the trial the parents of Robert Gill said the decisions made by the court and the penalties were just. | After the trial the parents of Robert Gill said the decisions made by the court and the penalties were just. |
| Robert Gill's body was discovered by a team of police divers | Robert Gill's body was discovered by a team of police divers |
| Fred and Fran Gill, of Wilstead in Bedfordshire, said: "We accept their verdicts as being carefully formed. | Fred and Fran Gill, of Wilstead in Bedfordshire, said: "We accept their verdicts as being carefully formed. |
| "We also want to thank all who have supported us around the world by praying for us. | "We also want to thank all who have supported us around the world by praying for us. |
| "Those prayers have made all the difference to the way we have been enabled to keep strong. | "Those prayers have made all the difference to the way we have been enabled to keep strong. |
| "We have been upheld even through hearing the evidence of what was done to Robert on the night he was killed. | "We have been upheld even through hearing the evidence of what was done to Robert on the night he was killed. |
| "The things we have learned about that night have made us angry but we have felt that anger subside each day and we have been kept in peace. | "The things we have learned about that night have made us angry but we have felt that anger subside each day and we have been kept in peace. |
| "Robert was a wonderful lad and he is missed by all his family and friends, particularly by his brother Duncan." | "Robert was a wonderful lad and he is missed by all his family and friends, particularly by his brother Duncan." |