David Wails
Died 20 June 2020
Who they were
David was a chemist with a PhD from the University of York who worked for Johnson Matthey, spending his career on clean energy. Colleagues described him as "a gentle, thoughtful man with a dry sense of humour" and an excellent coach. Friends said he always made people smile. His parents wrote: "David was a kind and much loved son, brother and uncle who never hurt anyone in his life."
What happened
On the evening of Saturday 20 June 2020, three friends – James Furlong, David Wails and Joe Ritchie-Bennett – were in Forbury Gardens park in Reading when a man attacked visitors with a knife. All three were killed and three others were injured. The attacker pleaded guilty and in January 2021 was given a whole-life order; the judge ruled it a terrorist attack.
Verdict / confirmation
Old Bailey, 11 Jan 2021: guilty pleas to 3 murders + 3 attempted murders; whole-life order (terrorist attack). Leave to appeal refused Oct 2021.
Perpetrator: A 25-year-old Libyan refugee (asylum claim 2012, leave to remain 2018); released from prison 17 days before the attack (BBC, Reuters).