Khairi Saadallah

2 offences

What the court heard

He pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder in Reading, Berkshire, on 20 June 2020. Sentencing remarks Khairi Saadallah is now aged 26, and is of Libyan origin. He has pleaded guilty to the murders of James Furlong, who was aged 36 (Count 1); Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, who was aged 39 (Count 2) and David Wails, who was aged 49 (Count 3), and to the attempted murders of Stephen Young, aged 51 (Count 4); Patrick Edwards, aged 29 (Count 5) and Nishit Nisudan, aged 34 (Count 6). The offences were all committed in Forbury Gardens in Reading in the early evening of Saturday 20 June 2020 when, using a knife with an 8" blade that he had bought for the purpose, and within an overall period of around a minute, the Defendant stabbed each of the victims in turn. Having jettisoned the knife, he got away from the scene, but was followed and was arrested. The first four victims were part of one group of friends, and the other two victims were part of a second group of friends. The two groups were each doing no more than sitting in the Gardens, a focal point within Reading since the 18th Century, enjoying being able to be together on a summer's evening, as the restrictions of the first lockdown were relaxed - when, without warning, the Defendant attacked and murdered James Furlong, Joseph RitchieBennett, and David Wails, each with a single thrust of the knife. His attack on them was so swift, ruthless, and brutal that none of them had any chance to react, let alone to defend themselves. It was only because of the loss thereafter of the element of surprise that the defendant's attempts to murder Stephen Young, Patrick Edwards and Nishit Nisudan failed. The Victim Personal Statements, all of which I have considered and many of which were read so movingly in Court last week, speak volumes of the love and esteem in which James Furlong, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails were, and always will be, held by their respective families, friends, and professional colleagues and associates, and of the devastating consequences for each of their loss. They all have the profound condolences and sympathy of the court and the public. Further, the Victim Personal Statements made by Stephen Young and Nishit Nisudan explain the psychological impact on them of what the Defendant did, and statements made on behalf of Reading Borough Council and the local Police explain the adverse impact on the town and what has been done to address it. The sentence for each murder, fixed by law, is one…

Around this case

• Central Criminal Court Crown Court
• Prosecuted by Crown Prosecution Service