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| Hither Green 'burglar' death: Henry Vincent 'was no monster' | Hither Green 'burglar' death: Henry Vincent 'was no monster' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suspected burglar who was stabbed to death was not "a monster", his family has said. | A suspected burglar who was stabbed to death was not "a monster", his family has said. |
| Flowers and balloons for Henry Vincent, 37, have been repeatedly attached and then removed from a fence opposite a home in Hither Green, south-east London, where he was killed. | Flowers and balloons for Henry Vincent, 37, have been repeatedly attached and then removed from a fence opposite a home in Hither Green, south-east London, where he was killed. |
| Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, was initially held on suspicion of murder, but released with no further action. | Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, was initially held on suspicion of murder, but released with no further action. |
| Mr Vincent's family said the fence was "the best place" for a tribute. | Mr Vincent's family said the fence was "the best place" for a tribute. |
| Elvina Lee, who said she was Mr Vincent's first cousin, said: "I don't know what's wrong with these people [who took them down]. | Elvina Lee, who said she was Mr Vincent's first cousin, said: "I don't know what's wrong with these people [who took them down]. |
| "He wasn't a murderer, he wasn't a rapist, they're putting [sic] him as a monster." | "He wasn't a murderer, he wasn't a rapist, they're putting [sic] him as a monster." |
| She was one of three women who arrived and re-fastened 20 bouquets and balloons to the fence on Tuesday afternoon. | She was one of three women who arrived and re-fastened 20 bouquets and balloons to the fence on Tuesday afternoon. |
| But the bouquets were taken down again within 20 minutes by a man who called it an "insult" to Mr Osborn-Brooks. | But the bouquets were taken down again within 20 minutes by a man who called it an "insult" to Mr Osborn-Brooks. |
| A man indentifying himself as Cecil Coley said he first removed the flowers overnight on Monday after becoming "infuriated" by the tributes. | A man indentifying himself as Cecil Coley said he first removed the flowers overnight on Monday after becoming "infuriated" by the tributes. |
| He said: "It was a residential area they were placing flowers on. It was inappropriate, and the guy deserves no tribute." | |
| Cecil Coley is also the name of a 72-year-old florist who was arrested on suspicion of murder after he stabbed an armed intruder to death in 2011. He was later released without charge. | Cecil Coley is also the name of a 72-year-old florist who was arrested on suspicion of murder after he stabbed an armed intruder to death in 2011. He was later released without charge. |
| Saverimuthu Augustine, 78, said some of the tributes had been attached to his property. | Saverimuthu Augustine, 78, said some of the tributes had been attached to his property. |
| He said: "I am annoyed they put them on my fence. I do not appreciate it. | He said: "I am annoyed they put them on my fence. I do not appreciate it. |
| "If it is a normal person it is different - it could have been my house [that was burgled]." | "If it is a normal person it is different - it could have been my house [that was burgled]." |
| Mr Vincent's cousin Phoebe Smith, 34, said whoever had torn down the flowers "should be ashamed of themselves". | Mr Vincent's cousin Phoebe Smith, 34, said whoever had torn down the flowers "should be ashamed of themselves". |
| "It's terrible - they don't understand that it's somebody's child. They're a memory of a son and a friend," she said. | "It's terrible - they don't understand that it's somebody's child. They're a memory of a son and a friend," she said. |
| A coroner also returned Mr Vincent's body back to his family during an inquest opening at Southwark Coroner's Court on Tuesday. | A coroner also returned Mr Vincent's body back to his family during an inquest opening at Southwark Coroner's Court on Tuesday. |
| Assistant coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe told two of his female relatives: "I know you are having a dreadful time." | Assistant coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe told two of his female relatives: "I know you are having a dreadful time." |
| A 33-year-old neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the BBC he felt "intimidated". | A 33-year-old neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the BBC he felt "intimidated". |
| "I think that it's really sad that someone's died and I think it's not their fault that he's died and it's up to them to grieve for him however they want to do it. | "I think that it's really sad that someone's died and I think it's not their fault that he's died and it's up to them to grieve for him however they want to do it. |
| "It is quite stark and you can't help but feel it looks a bit confrontational. | "It is quite stark and you can't help but feel it looks a bit confrontational. |
| "It's a massive, massive display right in front of the house. If the family want to lay flowers that's fine but it feels weird. | "It's a massive, massive display right in front of the house. If the family want to lay flowers that's fine but it feels weird. |
| "It feels a bit aggressive to be honest." | "It feels a bit aggressive to be honest." |
| At the scene: Hamish Mackay, BBC news online | At the scene: Hamish Mackay, BBC news online |
| Many residents in Hither Green have interpreted the large tribute to Mr Vincent as an aggressive act. | Many residents in Hither Green have interpreted the large tribute to Mr Vincent as an aggressive act. |
| One neighbour said they saw a car circling the block while the tribute was being erected, which they believe was an attempt to intimidate locals. | One neighbour said they saw a car circling the block while the tribute was being erected, which they believe was an attempt to intimidate locals. |
| If intimidation was the aim, it appears to have worked. Most neighbours are reluctant to talk publicly, for fear of being drawn into a dispute that may not be over. | If intimidation was the aim, it appears to have worked. Most neighbours are reluctant to talk publicly, for fear of being drawn into a dispute that may not be over. |
| While those living on South Park Crescent have all been quick to offer condolences to Mr Vincent, they argue his is not the only life that has been ruined. | While those living on South Park Crescent have all been quick to offer condolences to Mr Vincent, they argue his is not the only life that has been ruined. |
| Mr Osborn-Brooks and his family have not returned to their house since the burglary and their windows have now been boarded up for fear of reprisals. | Mr Osborn-Brooks and his family have not returned to their house since the burglary and their windows have now been boarded up for fear of reprisals. |
| Another neighbour, Theresa Webb, described the tributes as "inappropriate" and of "poor taste". | Another neighbour, Theresa Webb, described the tributes as "inappropriate" and of "poor taste". |
| Speaking about Mr Osborn-Brooks, she added: "One minute he is in his house and the next his life is turned upside down. | Speaking about Mr Osborn-Brooks, she added: "One minute he is in his house and the next his life is turned upside down. |
| "Everyone around here sends their best wishes to him." | "Everyone around here sends their best wishes to him." |
| Police had been called to Mr Osborn-Brooks's property at about 00:45 BST on 4 April over reports of a burglary when they found Mr Vincent collapsed in nearby Further Green Road. | Police had been called to Mr Osborn-Brooks's property at about 00:45 BST on 4 April over reports of a burglary when they found Mr Vincent collapsed in nearby Further Green Road. |
| A witness said an accomplice dragged Mr Vincent toward a van before leaving him for dead. | A witness said an accomplice dragged Mr Vincent toward a van before leaving him for dead. |
| On Monday, the Met Police said 28-year-old Billy Jeeves was wanted in connection with the burglary. | On Monday, the Met Police said 28-year-old Billy Jeeves was wanted in connection with the burglary. |
| Mr Jeeves's white Vauxhall Astra van was found burnt out and destroyed in Star Lane in Orpington, Kent, on Saturday evening. | Mr Jeeves's white Vauxhall Astra van was found burnt out and destroyed in Star Lane in Orpington, Kent, on Saturday evening. |
| Detectives want to hear from anybody who may have seen the van - with the registration GU52 AXT - in the days and hours before and after the burglary. | Detectives want to hear from anybody who may have seen the van - with the registration GU52 AXT - in the days and hours before and after the burglary. |
| In January, Mr Jeeves and Mr Vincent were named and pictured by Kent Police in connection with an investigation into a distraction burglary on a man in his 70s. | In January, Mr Jeeves and Mr Vincent were named and pictured by Kent Police in connection with an investigation into a distraction burglary on a man in his 70s. |