Man jailed for murdering pensioner in Manor House

A robber who murdered an 87-year-old man as he walked home from shopping has been sentenced to a minimum of 23 years in prison.

The Old Bailey judge ruled that Peter Augustine, 59, had lost his temper while trying to steal John Mackay’s bag outside a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on May 6.

Mr Mackay, who lived in Finsbury Park but was originally from Ireland, died in hospital two days after the attack, in which he was kicked, punched and attacked.

Sentencing Augustine to life imprisonment with a minimum of 23 years, Mrs Justice Whitehouse said he “murdered this kind, generous gentleman over a packet of cornflakes”.

Mr Mackay had lived in North London for 70 years and was known locally for his trademark trilby hat, his close family relationships and his love of Arsenal FC.

On the day of the attack, he had done some shopping at the supermarket and was on his way home. He was weak and used a stick.

The court heard that Augustine was looking for victims and upon seeing the 87-year-old man, he crossed a busy road before chasing him for 15 minutes and then attacking him in a quiet area.

Witnesses to the attack, which lasted about a minute, reported him shouting “give me the bag” while punching John Mackay and “grabbing” him.

Jane Bickerstaff Casey, prosecuting, said, “There was no need to use any violence.

“He could have snatched that bag out of Mr Mackay’s hands,” she told the court.

Instead, Augustine used “an astonishing level of unprovoked violence” that was “wholly unnecessary and, as seen, done in extreme anger.”

The judge agreed, ruling that the murder was not caused by an attempt to steal the bag but by Augustine’s anger.

The defendant was also sentenced to four weeks’ imprisonment for theft and eight years for robbery. All three sentences will be pronounced together.

During the trial, the judge took the rare step of removing Augustine from the courtroom while he was testifying, due to his aggressive outbursts.

He refused to attend psychiatrist appointments and meetings to discuss his case, and was absent from Friday’s sentencing hearing, claiming he had back problems.

The victim’s niece, Patricia Shain, told the court that the defendant had shown “complete disregard and disrespect for the family”.

He described Mr Mackay as a “perfect uncle”.

She said: “He was funny, charming, mysterious and certainly very mischievous – he was never seen without his trilby hat and was always impeccably dressed.

“He was always interested in our lives – taking us to see his beloved armory and introducing some of us to the pubs around the Manor House.”

He said he was never so happy as when he was with his extended Irish family and was deeply saddened by the murder.