A murder most foul: Olly Stephens and the scandal that never was – Issue XXIII
The life of a boy was taken, not just by the boys who took it, or by the girl who lured him, but by the culture which corrupted their minds and made them capable of a murder most foul.
Cartoon by Crid.
This is an excerpt of an article that features in our 23rd print issue.
Olly Stephens was 13 years-old. A mere boy. A boy for whom the particulars of his personal and social life were aged far beyond one taking their first steps into adolescence. He had large curly hair and an impish grin. Like us all, he likely had dreams and aspirations, though what they were – or if indeed he held such visions – I do not know. He had likes and dislikes, good times and bad, friends and nemeses. Like us all, he loved and was loved, he ate, slept and went to school. A normal boy in an abnormal time.
"We're sad for the man he won't be. But we had inklings of it watching him grow up. So at least we'll have that," said his parents, only eight months removed from that horrid day.
Olly Stephens was murdered on the third day of this year. He was set up and lured to Bugs Bottom field in Reading, where he was ambushed. He, a 13 year-old boy, was confronted and stabbed to death by two other boys, barely older than Olly. He was told, specifically, to wear flip-flops so as to hinder any potential escape. He was left to die, alone. By whom? A girl, herself barely removed from the innocence of youth.
Why was Olly Stephens killed in broad daylight? Because of a dispute on social media. Because of a girl. For vanity and for clout. The life of a boy was taken, not just by the boys who took it, or by the girl who lured him, but by the culture which corrupted their minds and made them capable of a murder most foul. A culture of image, status, twisted bravado and the premature maturation of children. One where thuggery and gang association are glamourised and sexual exhibitionism is encouraged.
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