Rapist suspected over man's death

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A convicted rapist who escaped from a secure mental unit may have killed a 73-year-old man while on the run, police believe.

Terrence O'Keefe, 39, a patient at Lambeth Hospital, escaped earlier this year while being treated at King's College Hospital.

Norfolk Police have been investigating whether he killed David Kemp who was found dead in March in Great Yarmouth.

O'Keefe was recaptured less than a mile from Mr Kemp's home on 17 April.

Officers in Norfolk began an inquiry after suspicions were raised over the circumstances of Mr Kemp's death.

Evidence

O'Keefe has been interviewed twice after evidence linking him to the 73-year-old's ground-floor flat was found.

Detectives are now waiting for prosecutors to decide if there is enough evidence to charge O'Keefe with murder.

Norfolk Police declined to comment on the investigation into Mr Kemp's death.

"We are still investigating the activities of Terrence O'Keefe while he absconded and was in Norfolk."

An inquiry launched by Lambeth Hospital after O'Keefe escaped found procedures for transferring high-risk patients were inadequate.

O'Keefe also escaped from King's College Hospital in October 2005, but was recaptured the same day.