VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE
Police clear 78-year-old who killed burglar defending home
HERO pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks will not face prosecution over the fatal stabbing of a burglar at his home, police said last night.
Mr Osborn-Brooks, 78, was arrested on suspicion of murder. But after Scotland Yard anounced the decision, it was hailed as a “victory for common sense”.
Police chiefs had been under pressure to spare the retired RAC
manager a court ordeal over the death of career criminal Henry Vincent, 37.
Senior politicians had made it clear they believed justice should be on the side of a householder’s right to defend their home.
Mr Osborn-Brooks was held and questioned on suspicion of murder after Vincent collapsed and died outside his £500,000 house in Hither Green, south-east London.
The crook, from a family of travellers with a notorious record for burglaries and cruel cons designed to swindle the elderly, had broken in shortly before 1am on Wednesday.
Vincent, from Orpington, Kent, had tried to keep the householder in his kitchen by threatening him with a screwdriver while a fellow thief went to ransack the house. The accomplice fled, leaving Vincent to die in the street of stab wounds. The news that no further action will be taken against Mr Osborn-Brooks emerged in a police statement which said the decision followed top-level meetings between senior officers and the Crown Prosecution Service.
One of the first to hail the news was Cyril Goodearl, 79, who was fleeced in his own home by Vincent and two accomplices last November.
Mr Goodearl, of Farningham, Kent, said: “Common sense has prevailed. It is totally the right decision. I am delighted.
“He clearly acted in self defence. This man was in his house armed with a screwdriver.
“I am delighted the police have told him he will not face further action. It must be a great sense of relief for him and his family.”
Mr Osborn-Brooks’ neighbours in Hither Green, south-east London, where metal grills and CCTV cameras have been set up at the property, were also overjoyed with his victory.
Sylbourne Sydial, 49, who chairs the neighbourhood watch committee and lives in the same street, said: “I think it is fantastic news and I think people will be really happy about it.
“It is encouraging and means
people will have full confidence in how the justice system works. The man was responsible for the care of his wife.
“However one is not dismissing the fact somebody sadly died. “
Stuart Smith, 55, a motor mechanic who lives nearby, said: “It is good news.”
Well-wisher Debbie Mahoney said on the pensioner’s Facebook page: “I have the upmost respect for you!
“You protected your wife and home, I hope you can feel at ease and know that what you did is what we all like to think we would do to protect our loved ones and home.
“You have done everyone a great favour knowing there is one less piece of scum in this world xxxxxx”
Investigation
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding, who led the inquiry for the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command, said it was important that Mr Osborn-Brooks had been interviewed.
“This is a tragic case for all of those involved,” he said.
“As expected with any incident where someone has lost their life, my officers carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death.
“We have approached the CPS for early investigative advice, as required under the guidance.
“We have received and considered that advice, and, at present – on the evidence available – we will not seek a charging decision. Therefore, no further action will be taken against the man.
“It was important that the resident was interviewed by officers under the appropriate legislation of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act – not only for the integrity of our investigation but also so that his personal and legal rights were protected.”
Det Chief Insp Harding said the circumstances of the burglar’s death would be examined in an inquest.
He added: “Our thoughts remain with the families whose lives have been devastated by these events.”
A further Yard statement said: “Officers have also spoken with the family of Henry Vincent who died following the stabbing.
“They have been informed of the decision and the reasons for it have been explained to them.”
Mr Goodearl, who was robbed in November by Vincent and others of precious mementos of his parents, said earlier about the crook’s death: “I feel justice. That’s got rid of another bit of scum. It’s good riddance and he got what he deserved.”
Speaking of Mr Osborn-Brooks he said: “I would like to shake his hand. If I was in the same position I would have done exactly the same thing. I am all in favour of capital punishment.”
Mr Goodearl became a victim of Vincent when a seemingly distraught woman knocked at the front door of his Georgian home in a village last November.
She told him she had been assaulted and asked if she could come in for safety and a glass of water. Mr Goodearl said: “She looked quite distressed. I felt sorry for her and I did what any gentleman would do and invited her in.” But the woman fled when a white Transit van pulled up outside the property and sounded its horn.
Mr Goodearl later realised she had been sent to distract him while his home was ransacked by Vincent and his gang.
The vehicle had been stolen and police found it abandoned later with an empty jewellery box belonging to Mr Goodearl inside.
Kent Police named Vincent and another man as suspects and have arrested a woman.
Mr Goodearl said: “There were two men with hoods up in the front. I didn’t get to see their faces. And that was that.
“It made me feel so invaded. I felt conned and cheated.
“It has definitely made me lose my faith in people. I trust people a lot less now.
“There was my mum’s engagement and wedding rings and my father’s cygnet ring and other jewellery.
“It was all of great sentimental value.”