Man jailed for murdering pensioner in Manor House

The robber who killed an 87-year-old man on his way home while shopping was sentenced to at least 23 years in prison.

The Old Bailey heard how Peter Augustine, 59, became enraged when he tried to grab John Mackey’s bag outside a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on May 6.

Mr Mackey, who lived in Finsbury Park but was originally from Ireland, died in hospital two days after the attack, in which he was kicked, punched and stamped.

Sentencing Augustine to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years, Mrs Justice Whitehouse said he killed a “kind, innocent” man “for a box of cornflakes, a pint of milk and a hot dog”.

He added: “If this defendant were truly starving and asked Mr Mackey for help, I have no doubt that this kind, generous gentleman would have helped him.”

Mr Mackey had lived in North London for 70 years and was known locally for his distinctive fedora, close family relationships and love of Arsenal FC.

On the day of the attack, she had bought some shopping from the supermarket and was walking home. He was skinny and used a stick.

The court heard Augustine spied on the victims and spotted the 87-year-old, crossing a busy road before following him for 15 minutes and then attacking him in a quiet place.

Witnesses to the minute-long attack described him yelling “give me the bag” while punching John Mackey and “stomping his feet”.

Jane Bickerstaff KC, who prosecuted the case, said: “There was no need to resort to violence at all.

“He could have snatched that bag from Mr Mackey’s hands,” he told the court.

Instead, he said, Augustine used “a staggering amount of gratuitous violence” that was “completely unnecessary and, as observed by witnesses, carried out with extreme anger.”

At sentencing, the judge told the court that the murder was the result of Augustine’s anger, not an attempt to steal the bag.

the accused, Convicted by jury on November 13He was also sentenced to 4 weeks in prison for theft and 8 years in prison for robbery. The sentences will be served simultaneously.

During the trial, the judge took the rare step of removing Augustine from the courtroom because of his aggressive outbursts while testifying.

He refused to attend a psychiatrist’s appointment and meetings to discuss his case and did not attend Friday’s sentencing hearing, claiming he had back problems.

Patricia Schan, the victim’s niece, told the court the defendant showed “complete disdain and disrespect for the family”.

He described Mr Mackey as the “perfect uncle”.

He said: “Funny, charming, mysterious and downright mischievous, he was never seen without his fedora and was always immaculately dressed.

“He was always interested in our lives, taking us to see Arsenal, which he loved, and introducing some of us to the pubs around the Manor House.”

He said he was never happier than when he was with his large Irish family and his murder caused deep sadness.