A robber who kicked, punched and stamped an elderly pensioner to death before stealing his box of cornflakes and a cottage pie has been jailed for life for murder.
Peter Augustine, 59, targeted 87-year-old John Mackey after he had made a trip to his local Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on May 6.
The robber followed Mr Mackey from the shop while planning to steal his groceries, and then carried out the violent attack when the pensioner refused to simply hand over the food.
Augustine was seen searching the pensioner’s jacket as he lay on the ground, the Old Bailey heard.
On Friday, Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC jailed Augustine for life, with a minimum term of 23 years.
She branded it a “cowardly attack”, and said Augustine had shown no remorse.
“There is no doubt the defendant targeted him because he was frail”, she added.
The court heard a member of the public alerted police after she heard a shout of “give me the bag” and saw Mr Mackey lying inert on the pavement.
Mr Mackey, who was bleeding from his head, regained consciousness but was unable to tell officers what had happened.
He was treated in hospital for bleeding on the brain and broken ribs, but died from his injuries two days later.
Police pieced together events from CCTV footage, although the attack itself was not caught on camera, prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff KC told Augustine’s trial.
Mr Mackey had set off from his address shortly after 5pm wearing a distinctive trilby hat, grey mackintosh coat and carrying a walking stick and black bag.
At 5.12pm, he went into the Co-op where he bought cornflakes, an own-brand cottage pie and Mirror newspaper which he put in his bag.
He paid for his goods using a £20 note and put the change of £11.50 in his trouser pocket.
Eighteen minutes later, Augustine began to follow the pensioner.
Mr Mackey then went into Manor Kebab at 5.36pm and bought sausage and chips for his dinner as the defendant loitered outside.
The victim was last seen on camera at 5.50pm and Augustine reappeared on CCTV three minutes later carrying what looked like the victim’s bag.
Augustine was arrested at a nearby hotel where he was staying. In his room, police found the remains of Mr Mackey’s groceries and wrapping from the cottage pie, and sausage and chips.
The Metropolitan Police said Augustine showed no remorse when he was arrested, making a series of threats to officers, acting violently and throwing a hot coffee.
He was also recorded as saying: “I ain’t killed nobody mate”.
Ms Bickerstaff previously told jurors that Mr Mackey was 5ft 5ins tall and weighed less than nine stone.
She said: “He would have been largely unable to put up any resistance to the attack due to his age and infirmity.”
The prosecutor told jurors that at the time, Augustine was living in “reduced circumstances” and was effectively homeless.
She said he had used “extreme force” after he targeted Mr Mackey.
“When the defendant kicked and punched an elderly, vulnerable and largely defenceless man, who was prone on the floor, the Crown says that he intended to cause him really serious harm,” Ms Bickerstaff said.
After the guilty verdict, Mr Mackey’s family thanked police and lawyers for their “professionalism, kindness, empathy and support”, and praised the judge’s “wisdom”.
“Throughout this harrowing experience of the investigation and trial we have felt included and listened to and most importantly from day one a real commitment to getting justice for Uncle John.
“He was the perfect uncle, funny, charming, mysterious and very definitely mischievous, never seen without his trilby hat and always immaculately dressed.
“He was an ally and friend to his 22 nieces and nephews, taking us to see his beloved Arsenal and introducing some of us to pubs around Manor House.
“He would never fail to slip a fiver to you, whispering don’t tell your mum and dad.
“He was never happier than when he was with his 10 brothers and sisters, telling stories with lots of laughter always.
“Always a proud Irishman, he lived happily around Finsbury Park for over 65 years, a loved and popular member of his community.
“He will always be remembered with love and a smile.”
Detective Sergeant Glenn Peach from the Met's Specialist Crime Unit who led the investigation, said: “I hope that Augustine’s sentencing today is a small reprieve for John’s family. He will be remembered as a proud Irishman, an uncle and brother who will be sorely missed.
“His family have told me that John was funny and charming, a life-long Arsenal fan, who was adored by his family and was loved by his local community.
“It is a shameful tragedy that he was killed by Augustine, for a mere few items of shopping. He deserved better.
“Augustine’s conviction is a testament to the officers who worked incredibly hard to build the evidence against him.
“We are dedicated to tackling violent offenders who carry out horrific acts of violence, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those responsible for these acts are bought to justice.
“I would like send my thoughts to John’s family, justice has been served and they can now remember John for the loving man that he was.”
