This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/pensioner-burglar-stabbed-death-named-henry-vincent-london-hither-green-kent-a8290576.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Burglar' stabbed to death by pensioner during home raid is named | 'Burglar' stabbed to death by pensioner during home raid is named |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suspected burglar who was stabbed to death during a raid on a pensioner’s home has been named by police. | |
| Henry Vincent, 37, was killed after allegedly invading Richard Osborn-Brooks’ London house armed with a screwdriver. | |
| He was fatally wounded during a struggle with the 78-year-old in the early hours of Wednesday morning. | |
| Vincent was dragged away from the house in Hither Green, south-east London, by an alleged burglary accomplice who then left him for dead. Police are still hunting for the surviving intruder. | |
| Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder and bailed pending further investigation. | |
| On Thursday neighbours said the pensioner, who suffered bruising during the struggle, should not be punished for defending his home. Mr Osborn-Brooks is said to live with his wife, who suffers from dementia. | |
| “They were indoors minding their own business and their world has been turned upside down,” said one elderly neighbour. ”I feel so sorry for him and his wife.” | |
| Adam Lake, who also lives nearby, said: “He doesn’t deserve to be punished for defending himself, and the neighbours that I’ve spoken to all agree that the priority needs to be to support him after everything that he’s been through. He was just protecting himself after all.” | |
| Police were called to a reported burglary at the house at 12.45am on Wednesday. | |
| “The 78-year-old resident had found two men inside the address and a struggle ensued between him and the men,” said a Metropolitan Police spokesman. | |
| “It is believed that one of the suspects had a screwdriver and threatened the homeowner with it.” | |
| Officers found Vincent collapsed nearby with a stab wound to his upper body. | |
| He was taken to hospital by ambulance and pronounced dead at 3.37am. | |
| Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicious of causing grievous bodily harm. He was later arrested again on suspicion of murder before being bailed until early May. | |
| Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said: “I would like to speak with anyone who has information regarding the outstanding suspect from the burglary, who is believed to be a white male; he may have told someone what happened at the address.” |