The manager of a luxury jewellers took his own life “as a direct result” of a violent robbery in which he was tied up by thieves who made off with watches valued at over £1.38 million, a jury heard.
Over 70 “high value” watches were taken during the raid on the 247 Kettles shop in upmarket London district of Richmond, south-west London, on May 25 last year.
Junior Kunu, 30, and Mannix Pedro, 37, deny their involvement in conspiring with others to commit the robbery and today went on trial at Woolwich Crown Court.
Opening the case, prosecutor Edward Brown KC told how office manager Oliver White, 27, had been “tied up” during the robbery before the raiders fled with their lucrative haul.
But he told jurors: “There was, however, a postscript to this robbery – and a truly tragic postscript.
“The following day, therefore May 26, Oliver White – as a direct result of the robbery – took his own life.”
The sales manager was found dead the following evening at the home where he lived with his mum Amy and stepdad Mark in Shepperton, Surrey.
Mr Brown told the court the defendants played different roles in the plot, with Kunu having entered the premises to carry out the robbery, while Pedro, who did not attend the shop on May 25, was “closely involved in the planning and execution”, including the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars.
Two other men, Michael Ashman and Kyle Bowrage, are alleged to have been involved in the conspiracy – both of whom detectives believe have managed to flee the country, Mr Brown added.
The jury heard how Mr White was first contacted by the conspirators through Instagram and then later on WhatsApp about three months before the robbery.
The two days before the heist, three men, including Bowrage, visited 247 Kettles to view watches with the prospect of making a purchase after arranging the appointment via Instagram, the court heard.
Mr Brown said this visit was an “aborted robbery” or a “recce” for the operation on May 25.
None of the stolen watches have been recovered, the prosecutor said.
In a statement issued through Surrey Police after Mr White’s death, his family said he had been “traumatised and unable to speak” after the incident.
“As a family we are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, funny, loyal boy, who lit up every room he walked into,” they added.
Kunu, of Mitcham, south-west London, and Pedro, of Woking, Surrey, both deny the charges.
The trial continues.
