Man admits ‘motiveless’ killing of Thomas, 87

A MAN has admitted killing an elderly mobility scooter rider in a “motiveless” knife attack five days after being released from prison.

Lee Byer stabbed 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran, pictured right, in the neck and chest in Greenford, west London, in August 2022.

It can now be reported that Byer had a string of previous convictions, and days earlier had been released from Wormwood Scrubs.

Yesterday, the 45-year-old, of no fixed address, denied murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter by diminished responsibility and having an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC accepted the pleas after mental health reports found Byer was psychotic, hearing voices, suffering from paranoid delusions and paranoid schizophrenia.

He said the defendant’s mental state provided an explanation for what was a “motiveless attack”.

Grandfather Mr O’Halloran was originally from Co Clare in western Ireland and had been well known in the community.

He was said to be a passionate musician and described as “very popular” in Greenford, often busking for charity.

Footage on social media showed him busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.

Shortly after 4pm on August 16, 2022, police received a 999 call from a member of the public who found the victim on his scooter coming from a passageway that runs between Runneymede Gardens and Welland Gardens.

Mr O’Halloran was able to tell the passer-by that he had been stabbed, although wounds to his body were clearly visible, the Old Bailey has previously heard.

The police arrived within minutes and Mr O’Halloran had collapsed and was being helped by members of the public.

Police and medics took over first aid but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.54pm.

A post-mortem examination found he had suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen.

Mr O’Halloran and the defendant were caught on CCTV heading towards the passageway where their paths crossed.

The footage showed that, apart from Byer, no one else went into or out of the area when the victim was attacked.

When he left the passageway, a knife could be seen in Byer’s hand.

In police interviews, he denied being the suspect caught on CCTV, claiming he was in his mother’s garden or the park at the time.

It can now be reported that Byer had 15 previous convictions recorded against him for 30 offences dating back to when he was 14.

Old Bailey Judge Mark Lucraft adjourned sentencing until May 10.