The family of an autistic 13-year-old boy who was lured to a park where he was brutally murdered have held a memorial service to mark the first anniversary of his death.
Olly Stephens, aged 14 years, was coaxed into Bugs Bottom in Emmer Green (Reading) on 3 January 2021. A girl of 14 allowed two boys, aged 15 and 16, to attack him with knives.
The alarm was raised by a witness and his panicked parents raced towards the scene. However, he was already dead at the moment they arrived.
After a trial, the two 14-year-old boys were found guilty of murder. The girl, however, pleaded guilty for manslaughter.
To celebrate Olly’s life, his parents Amanda and Stuart Stephens, invited close friends and family to join them at St Barnabas Church in Emmer Green, earlier this afternoon at 3:00pm to remember him.
A memorial service was held by the family of an autistic boy, aged 13, who was lured into a park and brutally killed.
Olly Stephens was (pictured), coaxed from Bugs Bottom, Reading by a 14 year-old girl. This allowed two teenage boys to “ambush” him with a knife on the 3rd of January 2021.
Olly’s father Stuart Stephens (pictured) said the remembrance service is important because it raises knife crime awareness
The service was led by the Bishop of Reading, the Right Reverend Olivia Graham – and played out on loudspeakers outside the church so well-wishers can pay their respects to the youngster.
Mrs Stephens said the past year had been a ‘living nightmare’, to BBC News.
According to her, she admitted that even though the year is over, “I feel like I’m living life and not looking at it.”
Stephens opened up also about why the remembrance program is important, as it raises awareness of knife crime.
He stated, “We want Olly remembered how he was rather than the way he died.”
‘[The service]You can raise awareness and initiate conversations about knife crime in your household – talk with your children.
Olly was lured into the park in a well-planned ambush last year after he had apparently tried to protect another boy being shamed during a group chat.
After a brief scuffle on the spot, Olly was left with two stab wounds in his chest from his attackers.
According to the Reading Crown Court, the younger boy (13 years old at the time) used a knife and stabbed Olly, while Olly was fighting.
Friends and family within the church were invited to the front of the Order of Service.
Jurors heard that Olly and several other people had sent them messages via Snapchat during the time leading to his death. It was a sign of hostility.
One message was sent by the girl to Olly, which read: “Karma-he (Olly), deserves all this.”
He also stated that he hated the older boy with a passion and that if he were to be seen right now, he would probably kill me.
After warning that social media played a major role in the death of their son, the mother and father of the victim have asked parents to turn off their smartphones.
Stuart and Amanda Stephens claimed they were still grieving the loss of their 13-year-old son, who was ‘kind, loving, and generous’. In January, he was lured into Reading to be stabbed in his throat over an apparently online dispute.
So that well-wishers could pay respects to this youngster, the service was broadcast on loudspeakers at the church.
Stephens responded to a question about what tips they would give parents of sons their age: Take their smartphones off of them and don’t let them return.
Mrs Stephens stated that she did not know how her son was being treated at the time.
She advised that you keep asking questions and be suspicious.
Continue to work until you feel at ease. You can also trust your gut feelings.
Ms Stephens said, “If you dislike the sound of your friends, it’s probably because there’s a good reason.”
“It is very difficult because it’s possible to look back at our parenting and see that we tried our hardest to do the best we could, loved our son to pieces, and did everything we could to help him.