Man guilty of murdering 'perfect uncle' for a bag of shopping in Manor House

Peter Augustine killed 87-year-old John Mackey while robbing him of shopping that included a cottage pie and a newspaper

Killer Peter August (left) and victim John Mackey (right)

A man has been found guilty of murdering an elderly man in Manor House after robbing him for his shopping.

John Mackey, 87, was assaulted and robbed in Goodchild Road at around 5.53pm on Tuesday, 6th May. He sadly died in hospital on Thursday, 8 May.

At the Old Bailey today, Peter Augustine, aged 58 and of Green Lanes in Hornsey was found guilty of John’s murder.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector John Marriott, who led the investigation, said: “I hope that Augustine’s conviction is a small reprieve for the family of John.

“It is a shameful tragedy that John was killed by Augustine, for a mere few bits of shopping. He deserved better.

“Augustine’s conviction is a testament to the officers who worked incredibly hard to build the evidence against him, which proved his part in John’s death.”

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. Augustine then assaulted him before stealing his bag, containing a newspaper, corn flakes, cottage pie and his dinner of sausage and chips.

The CCTV showed Augustine travelling to a nearby hotel where he was arrested. While in custody, Augustine showed no remorse for his actions, by making a series of threats, acting violently and throwing a hot coffee at an officer.

In his interview, he stated: “I ain’t killed nobody mate.”

However, detectives saw past his lies and charged him with murder and robbery on Friday, 9th May.

Following a two-week trial this month, Augustine was found guilty of murder and robbery. He will appear at the Old Bailey on Friday, 28th November for sentencing.

Following the conviction, John’s family paid tribute to him saying: “On behalf of our aunts Betty and Ellen and uncles Tommy and Liam and the extended Mackey family, we would like to thank our legal team lead by Jane Bickerstaff KC, who showed such bravery and strength when faced with such vitriol during her questioning of the defendant.

“[We also thank] the Met murder investigation team led by Detective Sergeant Glenn Peach, with special mention to DC Gemma Bristow for her forensic work on the CCTV and our family liaison officer DC Tufail Miah, for their immediate response and quick identification and arrest of the suspect, [and] judge Sarah Whitehouse for her wisdom and direction and the jury for their correct decision during a very challenging trial.

“The level of professionalism, kindness, empathy and support given to us as a family from our first contact, first police officer on the scene PC Hoyte to today’s conclusion, has been above and beyond.

“Throughout this harrowing experience of the investigation and trial we have felt included and listened to and most importantly from day one a real commitment to getting justice for Uncle John.

“He was the perfect uncle – funny, charming, mysterious and very definitely mischievous – never seen without his trilby hat and always immaculately dressed.

“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 and dad.

“He was never happier than when he was with his ten 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.”

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