Jury discharged in £1.38m watch robbery trial

The jury at Woolwich Crown Court was discharged after 28 hours of deliberations

A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of conspiring to commit robbery at a jewellery store - a raid after which the shop's manager took his own life.

Junior Kunu, 30, was accused along with Mannix Pedro - who was convicted on Wednesday - after watches were taken from the 247 Kettles shop in Richmond, south-west London, on 25 May.

The Woolwich Crown Court jury was discharged after deliberating for 28 hours over the case against Mr Kunu.

The trial heard the shop's office manager Oliver White - who was tied up and put in a headlock during the robbery - took his own life the next day "as a direct result" of the raid, in which more than 70 high-value watches were taken.

Mannix Pedro was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the robbery, the court previously heard

Mr Kunu, of Mitcham, had said the robbery was "staged" and everyone involved consented - including 27-year-old Mr White, whom he claimed would have "put up more of a fight" if he had thought the raid was genuine.

A date for a preliminary hearing to discuss whether there is to be a retrial has yet to be set.

Mr Kunu, who is in custody, was told he does not have to attend that hearing.

Office manager Oliver White knew the robbery was staged, according to the defence put forward by Junior Kunu

In a statement, Mr White's mother, Amy Keane, said: "We are all absolutely devastated with the loss of our funny, thoughtful and kind son Oliver; our lives will never be the same and we feel this loss every minute of every day."

None of the stolen watches has been recovered or was insured, despite the business being a victim of theft three years earlier, jurors were told.

Pedro, 37, of Woking in Surrey, was found guilty on Wednesday of conspiring to commit robbery.

Pedro, who was not in the shop on 25 May, was "closely involved in the planning and execution" of the raid, including the use of a stolen Audi as one of two getaway cars, the court heard.

'Vindication'

Ms Keane added: "I would describe Oliver as a huge character, very warm and a brilliant person.

"He lit up the room when he entered it and was incredibly kind and caring; he would go above and beyond for anyone.

"We know Oliver to be trustworthy and honest.

"Given the jury have convicted a man of planning and organising the robbery of Oliver, we take this as vindication of our firmly held belief he played no role in this offence and was not implicated in any involvement."