Murdered teen's family make plea on zombie knives

Owen Dunn was murdered in Swindon

The family of a murdered teenager have urged people to hand in dangerous knives ahead of the end of a national amnesty.

New legislation comes into force next week banning so-called zombie knives.

Owen Dunn, who was 18, died from a single stab wound in Swindon in December 2022.

Jo Davis, a family friend and founder of the Owen's World knife crime awareness charity, said: “The main thing is to act before the new legislation comes in as then you risk going to prison."

Zombie knives are set to be banned

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and 18-year-old Tyler Hunt were convicted of Mr Dunn's murder.

Hunt, of Park South, was sentenced to a minimum term of 19 years in prison while the 15-year-old was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

“Please make sure you give up your weapons - just hand them in as this is the fastest and safest way to get rid of them," Ms Davis added.

“Take it from us – we have seen and felt the full force of the impacts that knife crime can have on a family, and it is just complete devastation.

"Going through life and experiencing different milestones without Owen, it will never get easier.

“It will be his mum’s and brother's birthdays this month, as well as what would have been Owen’s 21st birthday in December – these things just never get easier.

"So please, hand your weapons in before more people are hurt.”

Loophole closed

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Dunn's family said their "lives had changed forever".

Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “While statistically Wiltshire may have some of the lowest levels of knife crime in the country, we have seen all too often how carrying a knife has led to serious injury and even loss of life – just like in the case of Owen, whose family now have to live with that devastation."

In January, the government announced zombie-style knives and machetes – which have a sharp edge on one side and a serrated edge on the other – would be banned.

While possessing the large bladed weapons in public is illegal, a loophole meant they can be kept and sold if they do not have images depicting violence on their handles.

A change to the Offensive Weapons Act closes that loophole and will come into effect next week.