Robber who kicked pensioner to death for cottage pie guilty of murder
A robber who fatally kicked, punched and stamped a pensioner before taking his cake and a box of cereal has been found guilty of murder.
Unemployed Peter Augustine, 59, targeted John Mackey, 87, after he visited a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on May 6.
The Old Bailey was previously told passersby saw Augustine attack Mr Mackey and search for his coat as he lay on the ground.
The hearing heard another member of the public called police after hearing Mr Mackey lying motionless on the pavement after hearing him shout “give me the bag”.
Mr. Mackey, whose head was bleeding, regained consciousness but was unable to tell the police what had happened.
He was treated in hospital for brain bleeding and broken ribs, but died two days later due to his injuries.
Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff KC had previously said at the hearing that the police pieced together the events from security cameras, but that the attack was not captured on camera.
A jury at the Old Bailey handed down its verdict on Thursday, finding Augustine guilty of robbery and murder.
The victim’s family and loved ones sitting in the public gallery cheered and cried after hearing the verdict.
One of them was heard saying: “Justice, justice, that’s what we want.”
Mr Mackey left the address shortly after 5pm, wearing a distinctive fedora, gray raincoat and carrying a walking stick and a black bag.
He went to the Cooperative at 17.12 and bought corn flakes, his own brand of summer cake and the Mirror newspaper, which he put in his bag.
He paid for his purchases with a £20 note and put the remaining £11.50 in his trouser pocket.
Eighteen minutes later Augustine began to follow the retiree.
Mr Mackey then went to Manor Kebab at 5.36pm and bought sausages and chips while the defendant was out and about, the hearing heard.
Jurors heard the victim was last seen on camera at 5.50pm and Augustine reappeared on CCTV three minutes later with what appeared to be the victim’s bag.
A subsequent search of the defendant’s room revealed the remains of Mr Mackey’s food and the packaging of the cottage pie, sausages and fries.
Ms Bickerstaff had previously told jurors that Mr Mackey was 6ft 1in tall and weighed less than 9 stone.
He said: “Due to his age and disability he was largely unable to resist the attack.”
The prosecutor told jurors that Augustine was living in “constrained circumstances” at the time and was effectively homeless.
He said he used “excessive force” after targeting Mr Mackey.
“When the defendant kicked and punched an elderly, defenseless and largely defenceless man who was lying on the ground, the Crown says he actually intended to cause him serious harm,” Ms Bickerstaff said.
Augustine will be sentenced on November 28.
