Boy says he tried to help victim

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

A 16-year-old accused of being involved in the killing of a student who drowned in a river told police that he tried to help the victim out of the water.

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.

Luton Crown Court was told the 16-year-old, who was 15 at the time, claimed he was not involved in the violence.

He said he had tried to help Mr Gill out of the water, but then lost sight of him.

'Helping him'

The youngest suspect said all three accused were drunk at the time.

He denied knowing anything about a plan to rob Robert Gill and thought his friends were "helping" him because he was having difficulty walking.

Then on the embankment he fell over.

"Then Tom was kicking him in the stomach and 'Downsie' may have been kicking him as well but I don't remember. I got Tom off and got the guy up.

"They just hit him and Robert was trying to fight back. Then he just fell back and off the bridge."

The prosecution alleges that Robert was picked on as an easy target for a robbery, but his attackers led him to the river, used him "as a punch bag" and threw him into the icy cold river.

'Having a laugh'

The attack is alleged to have happened in the early hours of 27 December last year and the body was found by a police diver on 4 January.

The court heard that when interviewed by police, Mr Luddington gave no answers to any questions over several days.

Mr Downes also maintained his silence apart from giving a short prepared statement in which he said they were "having a laugh" with Mr Gill when he was punched in the face.

"I punched him back three times in quick succession. I realised he did not want to fight any more and I stopped," said Mr Downes.

'False imprisonment'

Mr Luddington has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, false imprisonment and robbery.

Mr Downes and the 16-year-old deny false imprisonment and robbery -offences.

Robert lived with his adoptive parents in Wilstead and had been studying engineering at Bedford College.

The prosecution case has now ended and the defence will start on Monday.

The case continues.