Teenagers deny murdering student

Robert Gill's body was discovered by a team of police divers

Three teenage robbers murdered a 17-year-old student by throwing him in a river near Bedford, a court heard.

Sean Downes, 18, Thomas Luddington, 17, and a 16-year-old boy are accused of pushing Robert Gill into the Great River Ouse on 27 December, last year.

Mr Gill's body was discovered by a team of police divers on 4 January this year, Luton Crown Court heard.

Mr Downes of Acacia Road, Bedford, Mr Luddington of Dunham Close, Bedford, and the youth, deny murder.

Timothy Spencer, QC, prosecuting, said: "He (Mr Gill) was alone on the streets of Bedford in the small hours of the morning and he was a naive young 17-year-old, not at all streetwise.

"He was assaulted, punched and kicked by these three and then, having done all that, they killed him by propelling him into the River Ouse.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Sean Downes with Robert Gill

"He was in no fit state to keep afloat in what was a cold and fast-flowing river and he drowned. His body lay at the bottom of the river until it was discovered by a team of police divers."

He continued: "Robert Gill had become a target for these three. They were predators picking on their prey like he was an easy picking, we suggest."

Mr Gill had gone drinking with his brother, Duncan Ratcliffe, 25, in Bedford town centre on Boxing day, the court heard.

They moved on to the New York, New York nightclub in the town, but shortly after 0100 GMT Robert was thrown out after he was sick.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Robert staggering off down the street with Mr Downes.

Every time he tried to get away, Mr Downes pulled him back in, the footage showed.

Mr Spencer told how the defendants later stole Robert's mobile phone and wallet, held him captive then used him as a "punch bag" before pushing him in the river.

Robert was an engineering student at Bedford College who was adopted at the age of nine, the court heard.

The case continues.