Families of three friends murdered in a Reading park have paid emotional tributes to their loved ones.

History teacher James Furlong, 36, scientist David Wails, 49, and pharmaceutical manager Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, a 39-year-old US citizen, died after being stabbed in Forbury Gardens on June 20 last year as they enjoyed a summer's evening.

Khairi Saadallah, 26, shouted "Allahu akbar" during the rampage, during which he attempted to murder three others before fleeing.

A victim impact statement was read at the Old Bailey by Alison Morgan QC on Wednesday, submitted by Mr Furlong's father Gary Furlong on behalf of the family, including his mother Jan, his brother Gary, his sister-in-law Laura and his two nieces.

It read: "James was a remarkable person, an unfailingly kind and compassionate man.

"He was a gentle, deeply caring soul and a great support to those he knew.

"James was gay. He first came out as gay to his mother and then later to the rest of his family. He was worried that it might change things, but it only made us all closer.

"As a parent, to have a child is the greatest gift. To lose a child is unbearable, but to lose a child in such a cruel and violent way is excruciating."

Mr Furlong's partner, Tony Belicard, told the court the pair met in February 2019 and shared the "same hobbies and the same ideals".

He said: "We had many plans, moving in together, meeting my parents, he was learning French, we even talked about adopting a child.

"James was an incredibly kind person, and if this murderer had asked him for help instead of taking his life, James would have reached out without any hesitation."

Saadallah, who has admitted three murders and three attempted murders, sat through the statement with his head bowed.

Mr Ritchie-Bennett's family gave statements through video link from Philadelphia.
His mother Charlene said: "Everyone loved Joe and he always included everyone in his life. He cared deeply for family, friends and co-workers.

"He always saw the good in people and accepted them as we accepted him. He was brutally honest in a good way.

"He loved a good challenge and never ceased to amaze our family with his love for us and his accomplishments in life."

She called Saadallah "nothing but a failure" who "brutally killed three of the nicest men in the world".

His father, Robert Ritchie, said he retired as a college professor in May last year "so I could spend more time with family and travelling abroad" and had been planning a family trip to Greece.

"Finally I would have had more time to see Joe but that was stolen by the defendant", he said.

Joan Wails, the mother of Mr Wails, said in her statement: "I actually don't know where to start when trying to explain how I feel about the brutal killing of my wonderful, caring, loving son David and how it has affected me.

"There was no sense in David's death, it was cruel, inhumane and cowardly.

"The pain I feel in my heart is unbearable.

"What this person did to David and his two friends is monstrous. That's what my family and I refer to him as, a monster.

"He is an evil murderer who has cowardly taken the life of my son and his friends."

During the failed Libyan asylum seeker's rampage, three others - Stephen Young, 51, Patrick Edwards, 29, and Nishit Nisudan, 34, - were also injured.

Earlier during proceedings on Wednesday, Saadallah's defence barrister Rossano Scamardella QC argued against a whole life prison term, which is sought by the prosecution.

He suggested the sentence should be one of life imprisonment with a starting point of 30 years, citing a lack of serious premeditation, the "fleeting" strength of his commitment to Islamist jihad, and his mental health issues.

He told the court: "None of the submissions I'm about to make are designed to downplay or dilute the seriousness of the incident ... criminal offending is rarely more serious than this."

Mr Scamardella went on: "In this case, significant planning or premeditation simply does not exist.

"I concede the defendant took certain steps to facilitate the killing, putting himself in a position to commit the act, but nothing close in the issue of planning that would justify a whole life term."

Mr Justice Sweeney is due to pass his sentence on Monday at the Old Bailey not before 3pm.