A 29-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to robbing a watch dealer who later died by suicide after a £2 million theft at his store in Richmond, south-west London.
Junior Kunu, from Mitcham, appeared via video-link at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday, where he denied robbery. He is accused of putting Oliver White in a chokehold and restraining him with cable ties before stealing watches from the 247 Kettles store on May 25.
Prosecutor Nwanneka Aik described the incident as a 'violent robbery'. Mr White, 27, was found dead the following day. His family said he returned home 'traumatised and unable to speak' after the attack.
Kunu was remanded in custody ahead of a pre-trial hearing in September and a trial scheduled for November.
In a statement, 247 Kettles described Mr White as a 'close friend' who left a 'long-lasting impact on the watch community'.
