Published: Friday, 2nd May, 2008 19:25
Mother of murdered teen pays tribute to 'Junior'
By Lucy Thorne
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THE mother of murdered teenager Robert Spence has paid tribute to her son, who she said was "always smiling".
Sandra Blake said Robert, whom she called Junior, was "a hard working boy, very helpful and always smiling, he wasn’t a trouble maker. He was well mannered and respectful to others".
The 17-year-old from Burghfield Common, died from a single stab wound to the heart following an incident outside Burger King in Reading's St Mary's Butts just after 4am on Friday Morning.
Police enquiries are centering on a fight between two gangs.
Two other men, believed to be in their late teens or early 20's remain seriously injured in hospital.
Always smiling: Robert Spence
Robert's body was discovered slumped outside the entrance to the Royal Berkshire Hospital accident and emergency unit.
Police officers are understood to have been called to deal with another incident involving two injured men in A&E when they were alerted to a commotion near the main entrance and found his body in pools of blood.
Supt Steve Kirk, the Reading area police commander, said: “We believe that two separate groups were involved in the fight, and it is possible that one of the groups, made up of black and mixed race men all in their late teens and early 20s, made off in cars.
“We are trying to piece together exactly what took place and we do not have a motive at this time.
“I would urge anyone who was in this area of Reading at the time, anyone who witnessed the fight or anyone who has any information to get in contact urgently.”
The waiting area of the A&E department has been sealed off and is being treated as a scene of crime and ambulances carrying minor emergency cases are being diverted to other hospitals.
Royal Berkshire Hospital spokesman Joe Wise confirmed the A&E department is open and fully operational but he advised: “Members of the public who require medical attention for injuries should attend as usual but we would ask people who have minor ailments to consider contacting their GP rather than using the facilities of the Accident and Emergency Department.”
St Mary’s Butts, one of the town’s main bus routes, was closed for most of Friday but reopened around 7pm.
Did you know Junior? Send your tributes to lthorne@berksmedia.co.uk or leave your comment below.
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