Student death accused 'on CCTV'

Two of the three teenagers accused of murdering a student by throwing him in a river were seen on CCTV trying to use his bank card, a court hears.

The body of Robert Gill, 17, was found in the Great River Ouse near Bedford.

Sean Downes, 18, of Acacia Road, Bedford, Thomas Luddington, 18, of Dunham Close, Bedford, and a boy, aged 16, who cannot be named, deny murder.

Mr Downes and the boy are seen trying to use the victim's card at Tesco in Bedford, Luton Court Court was told.

The jury was shown footage showing Mr Gill before he was allegedly thrown into the River Ouse at Bedford.

'Easy target'

Det Con David Anderson told the jury he had spent more than 200 hours studying CCTV footage from a number of council and privately owned cameras in and around Bedford town centre.

The prosecution allege that Mr Gill was seen as an easy target for a robbery when he was in Bedford town centre alone in the early hours of 27 December last year.

But the teenagers were frustrated when they could not get any money out of his bank and they led him through Bedford towards the river, the court was told.

There, it is claimed, they used his body like a punch bag before hanging him from a parapet of the Royal Engineers Bridge. He was then thrown into the water.

Cash card

Mr Downes, Mr Luddington and the 16-year-old have pleaded not guilty to murder, but Mr Luddington has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a separate hearing.

Mr Downes and the 16-year-old also deny false imprisonment and robbery - offences which Mr Luddington admits.

Mr Anderson said at 0312 BST the 16-year-old and Mr Downes are seen at Tesco trying unsuccessfully to use Mr Gill's cash card.

Mr Gill lived with his adoptive parents in Cotten End Road, Wilstead and had started an engineering course at Bedford College.

The trial continues.

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