Imps manager wants ‘radical changes’ after defeat

A 14-year-old schoolboy murdered a 12-year-old during a “brutal” knife attack after luring his victim out of his home in the early hours, a jury was told on Tuesday.

Victim Roberts Buncis, 12, suffered stab wounds all over his body including a serious injury to his neck.

A jury at Lincoln Crown Court heard he was struck with such force that the tip of the knife was left embedded in his skull.

And it appeared that the 14 year old had also tried to cut off one of Roberts’ hands during what was described as a prolonged attack, the court was told.

Roberts’ body was found in a wooded area near to a footpath in the village of Fishtoft on the outskirts of the town of Boston, Lincs, on the morning of December 12, 2020.

Mary Loram QC, prosecuting, said: “He (Roberts) had been subjected to a brutal and prolonged attack with a knife.

“In short he was stabbed to the head, to the back, neck, torso, legs and arms and those injuries inevitably led to his death.

“You will not be asked to look at any photographs but you will be looking at a detailed re-creation of them so you can see for yourself the savagery and the extent of the attack upon him.

“We can see repeated injuries caused by a knife to the back. It is difficult to see how these could ever have been caused in self defence.

“The wound to the neck speaks for itself. The injuries to one of the hands was such that it looked as if, in the attack, the defendant had tried to cut it off.

“When the knife was found the tip was missing. The tip of the knife was found still lodged in his (Roberts) skull.

“This was no instant reaction. To cause these amount of injuries must have taken time. It was truly a sustained attack and could never sensibly have been suggested to have been done in self defence.

“The person accused of killing Roberts is this defendant who is 14 years old. He also lived in Boston and it seems was a friend of Roberts or at least seemed to be.

“This was a planned attack on Roberts. Maybe he (the defendant) didn’t intend to take it as far as he did. Maybe he did need to. However, we say it was planned by the defendant and Roberts was lured out of his house to be attacked.”

Miss Loram said that afterwards the defendant messaged another 14 year old saying “Things went wrong” and “This wasn’t supposed to go down like this”.

Messages found on Roberts’ phone led to the defendant being identified as a prime suspect once the body was discovered.

As a result the home and garden where the defendant lived were searched.

Miss Loram said: “In that garden under a pot was a knife. On that knife was the blood of Roberts and also of the defendant.

“A Nike top had been partially burned. There were some latex gloves. These had (the defendant’s) blood on them. That must have been as a result of a significant cut he had to his hand. There was also Roberts’ DNA on those gloves.”

Miss Loram told the jury that the defendant himself had cuts to his hand and following his arrest he was taken to hospital for treatment. When he was interviewed he made no comment to questions put to him.

The 14 year old, who cannot be identified because of a court order, denies the murder of Roberts Buncis on December 12, 2020.

The trial continues with Miss Loram due to continue opening the case to the jury this afternoon.

A 43-year-old man from Wragby has been charged with multiple offences including the theft of banks cards and vodka, and criminal damage of a van.

Lee Roy Murphy, of Market Place in Wragby, was charged with the offences that all took place on June 6.

He was charged with attempted burglary at a property on Silver Street in Wragby, vehicle interference and theft from a vehicle at the same property.

He has also been charged with criminal damage of a van at a different address on Silver Street, as well as theft at a property on Louth Road in the town.

During the burglary on Louth Road, a backpack containing a wallet with bank cards was taken along with an unknown quantity of vodka.

Murphy appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Monday, June 14. He was remanded into custody and his case was transferred to Lincoln Crown Court, which will be heard on a date yet to be confirmed.

Detective Inspector Tim Wilkinson said: “We take all reports of burglary and any other crime seriously. We will investigate all crimes to ensure justice is served. If you have been a victim or would like to report a crime please call us on 101.”

Businesses in Lincolnshire will be disappointed by further delays to the COVID-19 lockdown roadmap and a lack of extra funding, leaders have said.

Katrina Pierce, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses  in Lincolnshire, said the news was “expected” due to the recent data.

However, she added: “[Business owners] will feel extremely let down that there is to be no further financial aid to come for hard hit businesses, ones that now have to either delay reopening again or continue limited trading, often at a loss.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, announcing the delays on Monday night, told ITV journalists that the measures currently in place – such as business rate relief – will last until September but did not announce any further support.

He said there wasn’t a reversal of the relaxations which “means that the businesses that are currently open and trading can continue to do that.”

Mr Johnson has been backed by local health bosses, who said the decision was the right one.

Katrina said the lack of extra funding was “a missed opportunity to support thousands of businesses and jobs that have already suffered over five consecutive quarters, often with no revenue at all”.

“To see them told to remain closed or carry on operating in a limited way with no strengthened safety net at this critical late stage is beyond disappointing – they will feel crushed.”

Katrina Pierce, development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Lincolnshire. | Photo: Supplied

Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council also said it was “disappointing” news for businesses, particularly in the hospitality sector “bearing in mind hospitalisations are very low and the vast majority of the vulnerable are now protected”.

He said that was “no comfort to the businesses who’ve had to suffer from lockdown over the past year but who were beginning to get more people through their doors through the recent period of good weather as people quite rightly look forward to lockdown restrictions ending”.

“The hospitality sector in particular need to trade freely and see more footfall without customers being restricted.

“We moved to help businesses cope with lockdown through our community grant scheme earlier this year which had a great response.

“People have had to endure so much they want to see a return to normality as soon as possible.”

Cllr Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council. | Photo: Daniel Jaines

He added he was pleased that at least weddings could go ahead with more than 30 people after June 21.

Reacting to the news last night, Lincoln venue The Engine Shed, said it was considering all of its planned events.

Group Chief Executive James Brooks said: “This year has been a rollercoaster for everyone at the Engine Shed, as we have waited on each Government update to be announced.

“Not being able to open as expected on June 21 is a real disappointment for everyone, but it’s made us more motivated than ever to welcome customers back to bigger and better events than ever before, when we can do so safely.”

He said ticket-holders would be contacted via email over the coming weeks with any changes to their events.