A 58-year-old man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 23 years for the shocking murder of 87-year-old John Mackey, who was attacked and robbed for his shopping in Manor House earlier this year.
Peter Augustine, of Green Lanes, Hornsey, was found guilty on Thursday, 13 November, of murdering the pensioner in a brutal assault that took place on Goodchild Road at about 17:53hrs on Tuesday, 6 May. John, who suffered catastrophic injuries, died in hospital two days later, on Thursday, 8 May.
Detective Sergeant Glenn Peach of the Met’s Specialist Crime Unit, who led the investigation, described the killing as senseless and devastating.
“I hope that Augustine’s sentencing today is a small reprieve for John’s family,” he said.
“He will be remembered as a proud Irishman, an uncle and brother who will be sorely missed.
“His family has 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 said.
Augustine was caught after a meticulous review of nearby CCTV, which showed him observing John as he left a local shop before casually buying himself dinner at a kebab shop. He then followed the elderly man, violently assaulted him, and stole his bag containing a newspaper, corn flakes, cottage pie and John’s sausage-and-chips dinner.
The footage later captured Augustine travelling to a nearby hotel, where officers arrested him two days after the attack. Police said the killer showed no remorse, making threats, acting violently in custody, and even throwing hot coffee at an officer.
In interview, Augustine attempted to deny the killing, insisting: “I ain’t killed nobody mate.”
Detectives dismissed his claims and charged him with murder and robbery on Friday, 9 May.
Following a two-week trial that began on 3 November, the jury unanimously convicted him of both offences.
In an emotional tribute, John’s family expressed deep gratitude to the legal and investigative teams who worked tirelessly to secure justice.
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“On behalf of our Aunt’s Betty & Ellen and Uncle’s Tommy and Liam and the extended Mackey family, we would like to thank our legal team led by Jane Bickerstaff KCTh. e Met Murder Investigation Team led by Detective Sergeant Glenn Peach and our Family Liaison Officer DC Tufail Miah,” they said.
“The level of professionalism, kindness, empathy and support given to us as a family from our first contact has been above and beyond.”
Remembering John, they said: “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, slipping a fiver to you whispering, ‘don’t tell your Mum & Dad.’”
They added that he was “always a proud Irishman,” who had lived in Finsbury Park for more than 65 years and was a much-loved figure in his community.
“He will always be remembered with love and a smile.”
Judge Sarah Whitehouse commended the family’s courage and the professionalism of the investigation team as she imposed the life sentence.
