Girl heard 'burning clothes' talk

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

A girl has told a jury she heard three youths accused of the murder of a Bedford student talk about getting rid of their clothes.

Sean Downes, 18, Thomas Luddington, 17, and a boy, 16, deny murdering Robert Gill by pushing him into the Great River Ouse on 27 December, last year.

Jo-Lynne Oliver, 18, told Luton Crown Court she heard talk about getting rid of their clothes and burning them.

Miss Oliver said she originally did not tell police what she had heard.

Miss Oliver said it was only when she spoke to her parents about her omission that her mother called the police and the following day she made a second statement.

Miss Oliver, who was the "best friend" of Mr Luddington's girlfriend, Lauren Rinaldi, told the jury Mr Luddington said: "I have just thrown someone in the river."

'Not street-wise'

She said it was Mr Luddington who spoke to the other two about getting rid of their clothes and burning them.

The jury has been told that Robert Gill, a student at Bedford College - who lived with his adoptive parents in Wilstead near Bedford died in the early hours of 27 December last year after he was thrown into the river and drowned.

The prosecution claim he was killed after the three had beaten him and tried to extract his pin number for his bank card so they could plunder what money they thought was in his account.

That night Robert, his older brother and a friend had gone to the New York New York nightclub in Bedford town centre.

Robert, who was not used to drinking, ended up being sick and after being escorted out by a doorman, became separated from his brother.

Timothy Spencer, prosecuting, described Robert as "naive" and not at all "street wise" and as he staggered drunkenly near to the club he was accosted by the three defendants.

Mr Downes, of Acacia Road, Bedford, Mr Luddington, of Dunham Close in the town and the 16-year-old all plead not guilty to murdering Robert.

Mr Luddington has pleaded guilty to Robert's manslaughter.

Mr Downes and the 16-year-old also deny robbing Robert Gill and falsely imprisoning him.

Mr Luddington, the jury heard, has also pleaded guilty to both charges.

The case continues.