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Hither Green 'burglar' stabbing: Man, 78, arrested | Hither Green 'burglar' stabbing: Man, 78, arrested |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death. | A 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death. |
The man, named locally as Richard Osborn-Brooks, discovered two intruders in South Park Crescent, Hither Green, south-east London, at about 00:45 BST. | |
One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the man into his kitchen where a struggle ensued and he was stabbed, Scotland Yard said. | One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the man into his kitchen where a struggle ensued and he was stabbed, Scotland Yard said. |
The 38-year-old was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead at 03:40. | |
Mr Osborn-Brooks, who suffered bruising to his arms, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. | |
He remains in custody at a south London police station. The other intruder remains at large. | He remains in custody at a south London police station. The other intruder remains at large. |
What are your rights if someone breaks into your home? | What are your rights if someone breaks into your home? |
The CPS and police urge people to always call the police first - if you are able. | The CPS and police urge people to always call the police first - if you are able. |
But according to official guidance, anyone can use reasonable force to protect themselves. | But according to official guidance, anyone can use reasonable force to protect themselves. |
As a general rule, the more extreme the circumstances and the fear felt, the more force you can lawfully use in self-defence. | As a general rule, the more extreme the circumstances and the fear felt, the more force you can lawfully use in self-defence. |
The law doesn't require you to wait to be attacked before using defensive force, but does not protect you if, for example, your action is over-the-top or calculated revenge. | The law doesn't require you to wait to be attacked before using defensive force, but does not protect you if, for example, your action is over-the-top or calculated revenge. |
You are given greater protection under the law if force is used to protect yourself or others when dealing with a burglar or trespasser on your property. | You are given greater protection under the law if force is used to protect yourself or others when dealing with a burglar or trespasser on your property. |
The CPS says if you have acted in reasonable self-defence, as described above, and the intruder dies you will still have acted lawfully. | The CPS says if you have acted in reasonable self-defence, as described above, and the intruder dies you will still have acted lawfully. |
Police said they were called to the property over reports of a burglary when they found the man collapsed in nearby Further Green Road with a stab wound to the upper body. | Police said they were called to the property over reports of a burglary when they found the man collapsed in nearby Further Green Road with a stab wound to the upper body. |
One man who lives on the street said there had been a recent spate of burglaries in the area and his home had been broken into in recent months. | One man who lives on the street said there had been a recent spate of burglaries in the area and his home had been broken into in recent months. |
'Doesn't deserve punishment' | 'Doesn't deserve punishment' |
"I was renovating the house and they broke in and took a laptop. I know this has happened to others recently," he said. | "I was renovating the house and they broke in and took a laptop. I know this has happened to others recently," he said. |
Adam Lake, another local resident, said he "wasn't surprised" to hear about the burglary. | Adam Lake, another local resident, said he "wasn't surprised" to hear about the burglary. |
"We've even had to put up CCTV at home because we didn't feel safe," he said. | "We've even had to put up CCTV at home because we didn't feel safe," he said. |
"I feel terrible for the man that was burgled. He doesn't deserve to be punished for defending himself," he said. | "I feel terrible for the man that was burgled. He doesn't deserve to be punished for defending himself," he said. |
At the scene | At the scene |
Keith Doyle, BBC News | Keith Doyle, BBC News |
For now, the streets are cordoned off as police in blue boiler suits search gardens and bins for anything that will help their investigation. | For now, the streets are cordoned off as police in blue boiler suits search gardens and bins for anything that will help their investigation. |
Neighbours say there have been quite a few burglaries in this area recently - this is a relatively well-off part of south east-London with streets of semi-detached houses. | Neighbours say there have been quite a few burglaries in this area recently - this is a relatively well-off part of south east-London with streets of semi-detached houses. |
The chair of the residents' association told me it is trying to make the area safer, working with police and the council to close off alleyways. | The chair of the residents' association told me it is trying to make the area safer, working with police and the council to close off alleyways. |
At the same time it has been trying to bring the community together with street parties and other events. | At the same time it has been trying to bring the community together with street parties and other events. |
The dead man's next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem examination would take place "in due course", the Met said. | The dead man's next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem examination would take place "in due course", the Met said. |
Local ward Councillor Mark Ingleby described the killing as a "tragedy" and said it had come "out of the blue". | Local ward Councillor Mark Ingleby described the killing as a "tragedy" and said it had come "out of the blue". |
He said there had been a "definite improvement" on tackling burglaries in the area thanks to an active Neighbourhood Watch scheme. | He said there had been a "definite improvement" on tackling burglaries in the area thanks to an active Neighbourhood Watch scheme. |
New security gates had also been installed to prevent trespassers accessing alleyways behind houses, he said. | New security gates had also been installed to prevent trespassers accessing alleyways behind houses, he said. |