PENSIONER HELD FOR ‘MURDER’ OF BURGLAR
Man, 78, ‘stabbed intruder who threatened him with a screwdriver’ in kitchen
A MAN was being quizzed on suspicion of murder last night after an armed burglar was stabbed to death at his home.
The pensioner, named locally as Richard Osborn-Brooks, left, was arrested
after he interrupted two raiders in the early hours. One of the pair brandished a screwdriver as he tried to force him into the kitchen while his accomplice searched the house.
But detectives believe Mr Osborn- Brooks put up a fight and his 38-yearold captor suffered fatal injuries during the struggle.
Mr Osborn-Brooks lives in the house in Hither Green, south-east London, with his disabled wife Maureen, believed to have been upstairs at the time.
Neighbour Nick Myatt said: “I saw him a few times, he’s a lovely old man and he cares for his wife.
“He’s a nice man, nice to talk to. He’s an old man. It’s a shame really. I hope the law sees sense and let’s him off. I don’t think it’s right.”
Yesterday’s incident is the latest high-profile “bash a burglar” case to highlight the dilemma faced by householders when they use force to protect themselves during break-ins.
The case has similarities to that of Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer jailed for shooting dead a 16-year-old burglar in 1999.
Sylbourne Sydial, a member of the local neighbourhood watch team, said: “A man should be able to defend his home.
“Your home is your castle and I believe your neighbourhood is your kingdom.
“I have got a wife and child and sometimes I’m out of London.
“We will have to have a serious discussion with the police about if something like this happens.”
Martial arts instructor Clem Williams, 58, who has lived on South Park Crescent for 20 years, said: “My personal opinion is why were the men at his house?
“The man has a right to defend his home. They should let him go.” He
added: “It’s a very quiet road, normally we do not get police incidents down this road.
“There are a lot of older people on this road so I was quite surprised to hear about it.”
Another resident, Adam Lake, added: “He doesn’t deserve to be punished for defending himself.
“The neighbours that I’ve spoken to all agree that the priority needs to be to support him after everything that he’s been through.
“He was just protecting himself after all.”
Malcolm Starr, who led the campaign to free Mr Martin, said it was “disgusting” that the pensioner was being questioned.
He said: “First, he’s hustled by two men into his kitchen where he fights for his life and then he finds himself facing a murder charge.
“It’s just not right. What happened to the premise that an Englishman’s home is his castle?”
Mark Ingleby, who represents the area for Lewisham Council, said: “It is not some kind of gangland down there. It is rather sad.”
Police were called to the property in South Park Crescent at 12.45am, amid reports of a burglary in progress.
Detectives believe the struggle was between “one of the males and the home-owner” and that the intruder was stabbed in the upper body.
He was later found collapsed in nearby Further Green Road by paramedics, who took him to a central London hospital where he died at 3.37am.
Witness Gordon Williams, 44, said he heard “moaning and groaning” and saw the wounded man on the ground with a stab wound to the chest.
He said he then spotted another man in a white van trying unsuccessfully to get the wounded man into it before driving off.
Police and paramedics then arrived at the scene moments later before a large cordon was put in place.
Mr Osborn-Brooks – who suffered bruising to his arms but no serious injuries – was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and was later re-arrested on suspicion of murder.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating the death and the pensioner’s arrest is understood to be regarded as routine.
Yesterday, the street remained cordoned off as officers in forensics suits lined up to carry out fingertip searches of the pavement and road.
A large purple forensics tent was erected near the front door and the cordon was manned by about a dozen police officers.
A Met Police spokesman said: “The homeowner suffered bruising to his arms. His injuries are not lifethreatening.
“He was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and further arrested on suspicion of murder.
“He was taken to a south London police station where he remains at this time.
“The second suspect in the burglary fled the scene prior to police arrival and remains outstanding.”
‘He doesn’t deserve to be punished for defending himself’