Joe Ritchie-Bennett
Died 20 June 2020
Who they were
Joe was from Philadelphia and had moved to the UK 15 years earlier. He first worked for a law firm in London and later for a Dutch pharmaceutical company headquartered in Reading. His father called him "brilliant and loving". A friend said he could make you properly belly-laugh and at the same time show extraordinary kindness, "the kind that makes you feel safe and loved".
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).