Posted on 04/07/2018 9:01:54 AM PDT by Simon Green
A 78-year-old man who was arrested after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death in his home will face no further action, police have said.
Scotland Yard said it made the decision on Friday after consulting the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Henry Vincent, 37, died after the incident at the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks late on Tuesday night.
Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder the following day and released on bail. A second intruder was thought to have escaped the scene and was still at large.
On Friday, the Metropolitan police defended their decision to interview Osborn-Brooks under caution. DCI Simon Harding said: “This is a tragic case for all of those involved. As expected with any incident where someone has lost their life, my officers carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the death.
“Whilst there might be various forms of debate about which processes should be used in cases such as this, 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.”
Officers said they had approached the CPS for advice and, based on the evidence available, had decided not to seek a charging decision. They said an inquest would be held in due course.
Osborn-Brooks called police out to his home in the Lewisham area of south-east London in the early hours of Wednesday. He said he was at home with his wife and had found two men inside the house.
He said one of the men threatened him with a screwdriver and a struggle broke out.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
The bad publicity worked this time.
This is an outrage! No 78 year old man should have to stab an intruder. He should have shot him.
Did they confiscate his knives?
Never bring a screwdriver to a knife fight...
My understanding is the perp was stabbed with the screwdriver he brought.
Good end result, but he should never have been arrested in the first place. But, that’s the difference between being a subject and being a free man.
It was the dead guy’s screwdriver that was his end.
Maybe it should be “Never bring a screwdriver with a slippery handle.”
They should have never arrested him in the first place.
“This is a tragic case for all of those involved.”
I beg to differ with the police chief. There were several good outcomes that I can think of off the top of my head.
Oh, you know it did. They probably got a massive blowback from angry citizens, that they decided to back off. Nice to see they were intimidated by angry people.
No one’s said it yet, so I will....
They need to ban assault screwdrivers!!
Part of a criminal Traveller family that preyed on their old neighbors.
“Dad-of-four Henry Vincent, 37, had a long record for targeting elderly victims and served several jail sentences.
He was said to be well known for carrying a screwdriver as a weapon”
“Seven relatives from Vincent’s large traveller family were jailed in October 2003 after conning pensioners out of £450,000.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/5988134/richard-osborn-brooks-burglar-killed-hither-green-family-rant/
““Seven relatives from Vincent’s large traveller family were jailed in October 2003 after conning pensioners out of £450,000.””
Ah, Irish travellers? Gypsies.
Bad policy. They could have done their investigation without arresting the 78 year old man, and with one interview at the station with him, and no more. Any possible arrest could have awaited the determination they later came to - it was self defense. It is pure pretense that NECESSARY procedures could not have been made without the arrest.
Lol. Or have a longer screwdriver. I have a screwdriver on my garage workbench that is almost 2-1/2 feet long. But I also have a longer katana sword in case a perp has a longer screwdriver!
NO MORE TONY MARTINS!!!!
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