Reading ‘terrorist’ admits murdering three men as they sat in park
A knifeman has admitted to stabbing three men to death while they were enjoying a drink in a Reading park.
Khairi Saadallah, 26, has pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and three attempted murders at the Old Bailey. The prosecution say Saadallah is a terrorist but he has denied he committed the crimes for a religious or ideological cause.
Friends James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, were attacked while they were enjoying a socially distanced drink in Forbury Gardens.
All three died shortly after Saadallah, from Libya, launched his stabbing rampage at around 7pm on June 20.
History teacher Mr Furlong and Mr Ritchie-Bennett, a US citizen who worked for a pharmaceutical company, were each stabbed once in the neck. Scientist Mr Wails was stabbed once in the back. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
During Saadallah’s two-minute stabbing spree, he also injured three other men who were sitting in a nearby group.
Stephen Young, and Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan were all wounded but survived the attack.
Mr Young needed 28 stitches to his forehead after suffering a ‘serious and deep’ cut to his face.
The knifeman had been due to stand trial at the end of this month but changed his plea today at the Old Bailey.
He denies his stabbing rampage was a terror attack committed for a religious or ideological cause and that there was no substantial preparation or planning.
Mr Justice Sweeney adjourned sentencing until the week of December 7, when several issues will need to be argued, including whether there was a substantial degree of pre-meditation and planning.
It will also be argued if the attack was carried out for a religious, political or ideological cause and to what degree Saadallah’s mental state influenced his actions.
Friends and family of the victims paid tribute to their lost loved ones.
Mr Furlong, who was head of history, government and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham, was described by colleagues as a ‘kind and gentle man’ who ‘cared for each and every one’ of his students.
His parents, Janet and Gary Furlong, described their son as ‘beautiful, intelligent, honest and fun’.
They thanked the police and the public for the support they have received and said they were ‘very grateful’ for the tributes left for their son that had given them ‘so much strength’.
In a statement, they said: ‘He was the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could wish for.
‘We are thankful for the memories he gave us all. We will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.
‘We will treasure our wonderful memories of him and he will always be with us in our hearts.’
In a tribute to Mr Ritchie-Bennett, his father said: ‘I absolutely love my son with all of my heart and all of my soul.’
In a statement, brother-in-law Stephen Bennett and sister-in-law Katy Bennett said: ‘Joe was the most kind, caring and loving person that you could meet. We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken.
‘Joe will always be with us in our hearts.’
Mr Wails was described as a man who ‘always made people smile’.
The scientist worked for global chemicals firm Johnson Matthey and spent his career working on clean energy.
His parents said in a statement: ‘David was a kind and much loved son, brother and uncle who never hurt anyone in his life.
‘We are broken-hearted at losing him and in such a terrible way. We will treasure our wonderful memories of him and he will always be with us in our hearts.’
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