In dock, homeless man accused of murdering 87-year-old by stabbing him in the chest
A HOMELESS man stabbed a grandfather in the chest and killed him as he rode on his mobility scooter in a ‘vicious attack’, a court heard yesterday.
Lee Byer, 44, appeared in court charged with murdering 87- year- old Thomas O’Halloran on Tuesday.
The victim was stabbed as he rode under a railway bridge alongside the busy A40 in Greenford, west London, at 4pm.
A manhunt was launched after CCTV captured a suspect close to the scene.
Byer was arrested at an address in Southall, two miles from the murder scene, in the early hours of Thursday.
The defendant stood emotionless in the dock and looked at the Press during the fourminute hearing at Willesden Magistrates’
‘Known throughout the local community’
Court. Prosecutor Louise Ahmad described Irish-born Mr O’Halloran as a ‘popular’ grandfather known ‘throughout the local community’ for his busking.
Byer was not asked to enter pleas to charges of murder and possession of an offensive weapon. He was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.
Mr O’Halloran moved from Ennistymon, County Clare, to London when he was 16.
He was a regular outside Tesco, playing his beloved accordion. His mobility scooter had a charity collection box sprayed with yellow paint to represent the Ukrainian flag.
Irish president Michael D Higgins paid tribute to the ‘generosity and kindness’ of Mr O’Halloran. He said: ‘On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my profound sympathy to all the members of the family of Thomas O’Halloran who died under such tragic circumstances this week, to the Irish community in London of whom he was a part, and to all in London and Ireland who knew him.’