A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years for the brutal murder of an 87-year-old pensioner during a robbery over shopping that included a cottage pie.
The Cowardly Attack
Peter Augustine followed John Mackey after he left a north London Co-op store on May 6 earlier this year. The vulnerable pensioner had just completed his shopping when Augustine targeted him in what the judge would later describe as a "cowardly act".
Witnesses reported hearing shouts of "give me the bag" before seeing Mr Mackey lying motionless on the pavement in Manor House. Augustine proceeded to kick, hit and stamp on the elderly man before searching his jacket as he lay defenceless on the ground.
The Aftermath and Arrest
The attacker made off with Mr Mackey's black duffel bag containing his purchases, which included cottage pie, cornflakes and a newspaper. Despite being taken to hospital and regaining consciousness after treatment for bleeding on the brain and broken ribs, the 87-year-old died two days later.
Hours after Mr Mackey's death, Metropolitan Police arrested Augustine. Bodycam footage released following the conviction shows the murderer protesting his innocence, shouting at officers that he had "not killed nobody".
Justice Served
Earlier this month, Augustine was convicted by jurors of murder and robbery following his trial at the Old Bailey. The 59-year-old did not attend his broadcasted sentencing and therefore did not hear Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC jail him for life.
During sentencing, Judge Whitehouse stated: "I have no doubt that the defendant targeted Mr Mackey specifically because he was frail – it was a cowardly act, the defendant has shown no remorse."
A Family's Tribute
Following the conviction, Mr Mackey's heartbroken family paid emotional tribute to their "perfect uncle", describing him as "funny, charming, mysterious and very definitely mischievous".
In their statement, they remembered: "He was 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."
The family expressed gratitude to the legal team and Metropolitan Police, specifically mentioning Detective Sergeant Glenn Peach, DC Gemma Bristow for her forensic work on CCTV, and family liaison officer DC Tufail Miah for their "immediate response and quick identification and arrest of the suspect".
John Mackey, a proud Irishman, had lived happily around Finsbury Park for over 65 years and was described as a "loved and popular member of his community" who would "always be remembered with love and a smile".
