John Mackey, 87, was targeted by unemployed Peter Augustine after he visited a Co-op store
A robber who fatally kicked, punched and stamped a vulnerable pensioner before taking off with a box of cornflakes and a cottage pie has been found guilty of murder.
John Mackey, 87, was targeted by unemployed Peter Augustine after he visited a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on the afternoon of May 6. A jury sitting at the Old Bailey returned their verdict on Thursday, convicting Augustine of robbery and murder.
The victim’s family and loved ones, sitting in the public gallery, erupted in cheers and cried after hearing the verdict.
One of them was heard saying: “Justice, right – that’s what we wanted.”
Passers-by saw Augustine, 59, attacking Mr Mackey and searching his jacket as he lay on the ground, the Old Bailey was previously told.
Another member of the public alerted police after she heard a shout of “give me the bag” and saw Mr Mackey lying inert on the pavement, the trial heard.
Mr Mackey, who was bleeding from his head, regained consciousness but was unable to tell officers what had happened.
He was treated in hospital for bleeding on the brain and broken ribs, but died from his injuries two days later.
Police pieced together events from CCTV footage, although the attack itself was not caught on camera, prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff KC previously told the trial.
Mr Mackey had set off from his address shortly after 5pm wearing a distinctive trilby hat, grey mackintosh coat and carrying a walking stick and black bag.
At 5.12pm, he went into the Co-op where he bought cornflakes, an own-brand cottage pie and Mirror newspaper which he put in his bag. He paid for his goods using a £20 note and put the change of £11.50 in his trouser pocket.
Eighteen minutes later, Augustine began to follow the pensioner. Mr Mackey then went into Manor Kebab at 5.36pm and bought sausage and chips as the defendant loitered outside, the trial was told.
The victim was last seen on camera at 5.50pm and Augustine reappeared on CCTV three minutes later carrying what looked like the victim’s bag, jurors heard.
A later search of the defendant’s room uncovered what was left of Mr Mackey’s groceries and wrapping from the cottage pie, and sausage and chips.
Ms Bickerstaff previously told jurors that Mr Mackey was 5ft 5ins tall and weighed less than nine stone. She said: “He would have been largely unable to put up any resistance to the attack due to his age and infirmity.”
The prosecutor told jurors that at the time, Augustine was living in “reduced circumstances” and was effectively homeless. She said he had used “extreme force” after he targeted Mr Mackey.
“When the defendant kicked and punched an elderly, vulnerable and largely defenceless man, who was prone on the floor, the Crown says that he intended to cause him really serious harm,” Ms Bickerstaff said.
Augustine will be sentenced on November 28.
A neighbour Sandra Murphy, 65, previously told the PA News Agency that John was a ‘beautiful, kind man’, adding: “He was a lovely old Irishman who would do anything for anyone… He was an engineer and he was busy every day, and went out every day – he used to do gardening with his brother.”
Ms Murphy said she planned to lay flowers in memory of John. “He was very particular about his appearance, every day he had a trilby hat and a suit on,” she continued, “People said they thought he was targeted because he had a briefcase. I said ‘he never had a briefcase’. He had a little holdall which he had his anorak and his umbrella in.”
Paying tribute to her neighbour, Ms Murphy said: “Even today, I texted one of his old neighbours. She said when they were around the corner in the old flats he used to do her garden for her and everything. He was so loved around here. No-one would have a bad word to say about John.”
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