The manager of a jewellers tragically took his own life as a direct result of a violent robbery in which more than £1.38 million worth of watches were stolen, a court has been told. Junior Kunu, 30, and Mannix Pedro, 37, are standing trial at Woolwich Crown Court, charged with conspiring with others to commit the robbery, which had devastating consequences for the victim.
On May 25 last year, over 70 high-value watches were taken from the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond, south-west London. During the robbery, Oliver White, 27, the office manager of the store, was tied up by the assailants, who then made off with the luxury items. The court was informed that the robbery was the catalyst for a tragic chain of events, with Mr White taking his own life the following day, on May 26.
Opening the case, prosecutor Edward Brown KC said that Mr White’s death was a direct result of the traumatic robbery. “There was, however, a postscript to this robbery – and a truly tragic postscript,” Mr Brown told the court. “The following day, therefore May 26, Oliver White – as a direct result of the robbery – took his own life.”
The prosecutor explained that the defendants played different roles in the heist. Kunu is said to have entered the store to carry out the robbery, while Pedro, who did not attend the shop on the day of the crime, is accused of being closely involved in the planning and execution of the operation. Pedro is also alleged to have used a stolen Audi as one of the getaway vehicles. Two other individuals are believed to have been part of the conspiracy but are said to have fled the country following the crime.
The prosecution revealed that Mr White had been contacted by the conspirators around three months prior to the robbery. The initial contact was made via Instagram, and later, communication continued through WhatsApp. Just two days before the robbery, three men visited 247 Kettles, ostensibly to view watches in the hope of making a purchase. This visit, the court heard, was an “aborted robbery” or “reconnaissance” for the planned heist on May 25.
None of the stolen watches have been recovered, the prosecution added, which further complicates the investigation into the crime. The sheer scale of the theft and the emotional toll on Mr White and his family were highlighted during the court proceedings.
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Following Mr White’s tragic death, his family issued a statement through Surrey Police, describing their heartbreak and the emotional impact of the robbery. “As a family, we are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, funny, loyal boy, who lit up every room he walked into,” they said. “He was traumatised and unable to speak after the incident, and it is with deep sorrow that we now grieve for him.”
Both Kunu, of Mitcham, south-west London, and Pedro, of Woking, Surrey, deny the charges against them. Their trial continues as the court hears details of the robbery, the role each defendant allegedly played, and the tragic consequences that followed. The case highlights the devastating impact of violent crime, not only on the victims but also on their families and communities.
As the trial progresses, the jury will be tasked with determining the extent of the defendants’ involvement in the conspiracy and the tragic outcome that followed. The case has drawn significant attention due to the profound emotional and psychological toll the robbery has taken on those involved, culminating in the untimely death of a young man whose life was cut short by a senseless act of violence.
