Three Bristol men have been found guilty of murdering a Reading teenager who had tried to act as a peacemaker in a street fight.

Nicholas Olu, 31, of Sydenham Road, Totterdown; Leon Wilson, 32, of Firfield Street, Windmill Hill; and David Brooks, 33, of no fixed address were all found guilty of murdering 17-year-old Robert Spence, known as Junior, on May 2 last year in an attack outside Reading’s Mango Bar.

All three men were also found guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Spence’s friend Emmanuelle Connor, 23, after the eight week trial at Reading Crown Court.

Carlton Miles, 28, of Bridge Street, Eastville was found not guilty of both charges.

On March 20 Jemal Powell, 28, of Thicket Road, Fishponds; had been acquitted of all charges and released by Judge Zoe Smith at Reading Crown Court due to insufficient evidence.

Previously, the court has heard how Mr Connor, 23, had seen men with knives stabbing Mr Spence outside the Mango Bar.

Mr Connor was also injured, the court was told, and had one litre of blood removed from his chest cavity because of his wounds in hospital.

Mr Spence's injuries included a fatal wound to his heart and he was later pronounced dead.

Outside court the victim’s parents Sandra Blake and Paul Spence expressed their delight in the convictions, the pain they had been through and their hatred for knife crime.

Miss Blake said: “I am very pleased that David Brooks, Leon Wilson and Nicholas Olu have been found guilty of murdering my son, I don’t know how I would have coped if no-one had held accountable for his mindless murder.

“These men are almost old enough to be Junior’s father – some may have children of their own. He just didn’t deserve to die at their hands like that. They were men and he was just a boy, unable to defend himself from a knife attack.

She added: “Too many lives are being needlessly lost through knife crime. The courts have today sent a strong message to people who carry knives - that if they commit crimes like this they will spend time in prison.

“I would like to thank the police and members of the prosecution team who have worked hard over the last 10 months toward building a case against these men, which has resulted in reaching today’s verdict and bringing these men to justice.”

DCI Stan Gilmour, of Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, paid tribute to Avon and Somerset Police who helped bring the case to court.

He said: “I am pleased to see that these men have been brought to justice for this terrible crime.

“This was a particularly difficult investigation and, as we have seen over the last eight weeks, a lengthy and detailed trial. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of those involved for the dedication, pride and confidence they have shown in carrying out their duties.

“Thanks also go to Avon and Somerset Constabulary for their valuable assistance in getting this case to court.”

Adrian Roberts from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The verdicts conclude a lengthy and difficult investigation and prosecution.

“Justice has been done and this outcome sends out a strong message that perpetrators of violence will be brought before the courts to be tried by judge and jury.”

Olu, Wilson and Brooks have been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced at a later date.