Psychologist jailed for barbell killing
A PSYCHOLOGIST has been jailed for at least 32 years after killing a fitness fanatic with a barbell for the sake of a Rolex watch.
Christopher McDonald, who gained a first class degree in psychology, had been on life licence for the protection of the public when he killed Paul Tong.
Mr Tong, 54, known as Yankee, was attacked by McDonald with the exercise weight at his home in Ealing on April 19, 2017.
His body was found the next day partially covered by bedding at a “contorted and unnatural angle” and his room had been ransacked.
But remaining in the dad-ofone’s bedroom was an empty Rolex box with co-defendant Aliysa Ellis’s fingerprint inside it, the Old Bailey was told.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Tong, who was of “muscular build”, had cuts and bruises on his head and body, broken ribs and a ruptured liver from “blunt impacts”.
Following a trial at the Old Bailey, McDonald, 35, from Goodwin Road, Waddon, in Croydon, was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to rob.
On Monday, he was jailed for life and told he will spend a minimum of 32 years behind bars.
His co-defendant, criminology Masters degree student Aliysa Ellis, a friend of Mr Tong, was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to rob.
Ellis, 31, from Loveday Road, Ealing, was jailed for 13 years by Judge John Hillen.
Detective Sergeant Lee Tullett, who investigated the case, said: “Ellis knew that Paul Tong dealt drugs and kept cash and other valuables in his bedroom, and she conspired with McDonald to rob him.
“Paul was subjected to a violent attack and the pair then callously left him fatally injured in his bedroom before his body was found the next day.”
Mr Tong’s body was found after family members grew concerned and called police to a house in Willcott Road, in Acton, the following day.
A message on McDonald’s phone, recovered by police, sent to him by Ellis shortly before 9pm read “make sure you get the P” - “P” being slang for money.