A 14-year-old schoolboy used such force to stab a 12-year-old that the tip of the knife blade was left embedded in his victim’s skull, a murder trial jury was told today.
The older boy is alleged to have lured the 12-year-old out of his home in the early hours and then carried out a sustained “brutal” and “savage” attack.
Roberts Buncis suffered stab wounds all over his body including a serious injury to his neck, the jury at Lincoln Crown Court was told.
Tributes left for Roberts Buncis, 12, near Alcorn Green in Fishtoft, where his body was found. | Photo: John Aron
The jury heard that Roberts was stabbed “again and again” and it appeared that the 14-year-old had also tried to cut off one of Roberts’ hands during a prolonged attack.
Mary Loram QC, prosecuting, said that the two boys had apparently been friends and were part of the same Facebook Messenger group.
Flowers have been placed in honour of Roberts. | Photo: John Aron
Earlier the defendant appeared to be encouraging Roberts to sell drugs for him, she said.
The defendant, she said, had also discussed whether Roberts would snitch.
Roberts’ body was found in a wooded area near to a footpath in the village of Fishtoft on the morning of December 12, 2020.
People gathered on the streets for Roberts’ funeral. | Photo: John Aron
Miss Loram 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. He had been struck with such force as to break the tip of that knife.
“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.”
| Photo: John Aron
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.”
Police identified the victim as Roberts Buncis, 12.
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 prosecutor told the jury that the defendant and another teenager had previously discussed attacking another boy who was accused of being a snitch. The lad involved was subsequently attacked as he waited at a bus stop in an incident five days before Roberts’ death.
Miss Loram said that messages exchanged at the time showed that the defendant “has a tendency towards gratuitous violence with no significant trigger”.
The other boy involved in that attack messaged the defendant saying: “Let’s hope Rob doesn’t snitch”.
The defendant responded “Rob’s a liability” which was met with the response “If he snitch – smack time”.
| Photo: John Aron
Later the other boy messaged the defendant saying “Rob’s dead. Countdown seven days, one hour eight minutes, 12 seconds,” with the countdown ending at midnight on December 13.
Miss Loram told the jury that just days after the concern was raised that Roberts was a snitch he was killed by the defendant.
She added that the defendant also appeared to be encouraging Roberts to sell drugs for him.
In a message exchange the defendant said “We are getting 3.5 to sell in a week. See if you can handle it” to which Roberts replied: “Alright that sounds easy”.
The 14 year old denies the murder of Roberts Buncis on 12 December 2020.
The trial continues Wednesday.
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One of Grimsby’s longest-running family businesses, before it closed in 2017, is set for a new lease of life after teaming up with a brewery to sell sausages there.
Pettits was an award-winning family run butchers that served the town of Grimsby for 125 years before closing down in 2017, passed on through generations before John Pettit retired, prompting the closure.
After being asked if they would ever bring the business, and namely its famous Lincolnshire sausages, back, the opportunity has now arisen for Pettits to be back in business!
Pettits butchers were a staple in Grimsby for over 100 years. | Photo: Docks Beers
Teaming up with popular local brand Docks Beers, John Pettit and Sons Family Butchers will be selling its Lincolnshire sausages at the brewer’s taproom and website from December 1.
Stephen Pettit made contact with Docks Beers about becoming exclusive sales partners with the business in which his dad is an owner, and he said it was important to get his family’s recipe back on the shelves.
The Lincolnshire sausage is a famous delicacy in this part of the country, unsurprisingly! | Photo: Docks Beers
“The Lincolnshire sausage produced by our father, and his father and grandfather before him, was always a favourite product of ours, and was very popular in the town and beyond” Stephen said.
“Andrew and I, and our sister Emma, who used to work in the business, have frequently been asked when they may be available again, so we set about finding a way to make it happen.
We have spent a long time getting the recipe right and we are confident that the new sausage is one that fans will recognise as unmistakably Pettits, with its unique spicy taste.”
Available from Docks Beers from December 1. | Photo: Docks Beers
Stephen’s father and former owner of the butchers, John Pettit, adds: “I was naturally extremely saddened that the business ceased trading a few years after my effective retirement, and we are delighted that the most famous product is making a comeback.
“We are delighted to be working with Will and Shaz and the team at Docks, and we hope that the partnership between old and new will be a long and successful one.”
The sausages go on sale from the Docks Beers taproom on Wednesday, December 1, and will soon be available online with next day UK wide delivery, as well as reserving orders via the Docks Beers website‘s click and collect facility.
A beautiful barn conversion on the outskirts of Spalding which mixes modern and traditional styles has been listed on the market for £1.5 million.
Estate agents Fine & Country put the property on the housing market for a guide price of £1.5 million, and you can see the full listing here.
In the 5-bed, 4-baths house there is an extensive leisure complex, with a sauna, gym and even an indoor swimming pool.
The property has its own leisure facilities. | Photo: Fine & Country
As well as this, there is a huge open plan kitchen and family room with multiple living areas and five bedrooms.
Outside are paddocks and gardens that spread across the 4 acre grounds of Waites Farm Barns in Moulton Seas End, plus an attached triple garage with remote control electric doors, and plenty of parking spaces.
There is extensive space for parking and even paddocks on site. | Photo: Fine & Country
Lets take a look inside:
The house blends modern interior design with classic barn features. | Photo: Fine & Country
The semi-rural property has just about everything you’d need. | Photo: Fine & Country
Office space with up-to-date technology intertwined with traditional features. | Photo: Fine & Country
A beautiful view to enjoy while cooking or eating in the open plan kitchen. | Photo: Fine & Country
The master bedroom comes with an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. | Photo: Fine & Country
There are four bathrooms in the house. | Photo: Fine & Country
The exemplary home was completed in 2017, maintaining a lot of the old features of the barn, including exposed brick walls. | Photo: Fine & Country
Plenty of opportunity and space for you to relax or catch up. | Photo: Fine & Country
There’s even room for your own home gym. | Photo: Fine & Country
| Photo: Fine & Country
Masses of natural light in the house. | Photo: Fine & Country
Our “Don’t blow a positive” Christmas campaign will remind people driving over the drink or drug driving limit is a criminal offence which comes with heavy social and financial burdens, as well as a criminal conviction.
If you’re thinking of taking the risk and driving over the limit, fast forward to being stopped. That sinking feeling knowing you’ll “blow a positive”, be arrested and charged.
Rewind that scenario to the beginning and make a different choice. Be the person that puts your job, livelihood, friends and family first, not after a drink or drug choice.
Most drivers respect the drink and drug drive laws, recognising the inherent dangers of driving while being unfit through drink or drugs. Research shows more drivers take a risk with drink or drug driving in December and we’re asking for your help to reduce the number of people who do.
We know that most people find drink or drug driving completely unacceptable and we’re reinforcing this message to those who carry on regardless. Our officers know well that a positive drink or drug test leads to a driving ban and the loss of a person’s driving licence. This can lead to loss of employment as driver’s can’t get to work or need their licence for work. A loss of income will lead to other financial difficulties and a loss of housing and social opportunities too.
We’ll be increasing our efforts on targeting those who take the risk with their own and other people’s lives.
If you know someone who drives while they are unfit you can call us and let us know. Is it someone who you work with maybe and are worried they will cause a crash and harm someone?
If you know someone who drives after drinking or drug taking, talk to them about getting alcohol or drug support. Help is available and it just takes one phone call:
Over the previous 12 months there have been 806 drink drive arrests and 544 drug driving arrests.
We have seen a rise in drink drivers between the ages 18 – 24 years, 31-40 years and 41 – 50 years. The percentage of drivers between 31 – 50 years being arrested is 49%.
We have seen a 15% increase in men being arrested when compared to the previous year.
With drug driving we have also seen an increase in drug driving arrests between the age groups 31 – 40 years and 41 – 50 years, with an 19% increase in the number of women being arrested for drug driving offences, when compared to the previous year.
If you are concerned by someone who drives while they are under the influence of drink or drugs, you can call us and let us know. There are a number of ways to contact us:
Whatsapp
