A THIEF WHO fatally kicked, punched and stamped on a vulnerable Irish pensioner in London before taking off with his groceries has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years.
John Mackey, 87, was targeted by Peter Augustine after he visited a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on the afternoon of 6 May this year.
He died from the injuries he sustained in the attack after two days in hospital.
An Old Bailey jury found Augustine, 59, guilty of robbery and murder earlier this month.
He was also sentenced today for a theft charge that was dealt with at a magistrates’ court.
Judge Sarah Whitehouse KC told the court today she had no doubt that the defendant targeted the Irishman specifically because he was frail.
“It was a cowardly act, the defendant has shown no remorse,” she said.
Detective Sergeant Glenn Peach from the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit, who led the investigation, said he hoped the sentence was some small reprieve for John’s family.
“He will be remembered as a proud Irishman, an uncle and brother who will be sorely missed.
“His family have told me that John was funny and charming, a life-long Arsenal fan, who was adored by his family and was loved by his local community.
“It is a shameful tragedy that he was killed by Augustine, for a mere few items of shopping. He deserved better.”
Peach added: “I would like send my thoughts to John’s family, justice has been served and they can now remember John for the loving man that he was.”
Augustine was arrested two days after the assault, following CCTV enquiries showing him watching John leaving a local shop then buying dinner at a kebab shop.
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He then assaulted John before stealing his bag, containing a newspaper, corn flakes, cottage pie and his dinner of sausage and chips.
CCTV showed Augustine travelling to a nearby hotel where he was arrested.
He insisted to police: “I’ve not murdered nobody “.
Met Police said in a statement today that while in custody the 59-year-old showed no remorse for his actions, made series of threats, acted violently and threw a hot coffee at an officer.
Following a two-week trial which began on Monday 3 November, he was found guilty of murder and robbery.
Peter Augustine was found guilty of robbery and murder earlier in November. (Metropolitan Police / PA)
(Metropolitan Police / PA) / PA)
‘The perfect uncle’
John’s family thanked the investigation team and paid tribute to the pensioner in a statement this morning.
“He was the perfect uncle – funny, charming, mysterious and very definitely mischievous – never seen without his trilby hat and always immaculately dressed,” the family statement said.
“He was an ally and friend to his 22 nieces and nephews – taking us to see his beloved Arsenal and introducing some of us to pubs around Manor House.
“He would never fail to slip a fiver to you whispering don’t tell your Mum & Dad.
“He was never happier than when he was with his 10 brothers and sisters – telling stories with lots of laughter always.
“Always a proud Irishman, he lived happily around Finsbury Park for over 65 years – a loved and popular member of his community
“He will always be remembered with love and a smile.”
The statement was attributed to “our aunts Betty & Ellen and uncles Tommy and Liam and the extended Mackey family”.
Augustine has spent 203 days on remand and therefore has 22 years and 162 days left of his sentence to serve.
