Man jailed over murder 'for box of cornflakes'

John Mackey died in hospital two days after being attacked

A mugger who murdered an 87-year-old man as he walked home with his shopping has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years.

The Old Bailey heard how Peter Augustine, 59, lost his temper during an attempt to take John Mackey's bag outside a Co-op store in Manor House, north London, on 6 May.

Mr Mackey, 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 stamped on.

Sentencing Augustine to life with a minimum term of 23 years, Mrs Justice Whitehouse said he had killed a "gentle, innocent" man "for a box of cornflakes, a pint of milk and a saveloy sausage".

She added: "I have no doubt that if this defendant was genuinely starving and had asked Mr Mackey for help, this kind, generous gentleman would have assisted him."

Mr Mackey had lived in north London for 70 years and was well 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 picked up some shopping from the supermarket and was walking home. He was frail and used a stick.

Peter Augustine did not turn up for his sentencing at the Old Bailey, claiming he had a bad back

The court heard Augustine had been on the lookout for victims and, spotting the 87-year-old, crossed a busy road before following him for 15 minutes and then attacking him in a quiet location.

Witnesses to the minute-long attack described him shouting "give me the bag" while punching and "stomping on" John Mackey.

Prosecuting, Jane Bickerstaff KC said "there had been no need to use any violence at all.

"He could have just snatched that bag from Mr Mackey's hand," she told the court.

John Mackey's family paid tribute to a "perfect uncle"

Instead, Augustine used "an astonishing level of gratuitous violence", she said, which was "wholly unnecessary and, as witnesses observed, carried out in extreme anger".

Sentencing, the judge told the court that the killing was not the result of an attempt to steal the bag - but of Augustine's rage.

The defendant, who was convicted by a jury on 13 November, was also sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment for theft and eight years for robbery. The sentences will be served concurrently.

During the trial, the judge took the rare step of excluding Augustine from the courtroom as he was giving evidence, because of his aggressive outbursts.

He refused to attend a psychiatrist's appointment and meetings to discuss his case, and was absent from Friday's sentencing hearing, claiming he had a back problem.

John Mackey was a proud Irishman, his family said

The victim's niece Patricia Schan told the court that the defendant had shown "complete disdain and disrespect to the family".

She described Mr Mackey as "the perfect uncle".

She said: "He was funny, charming, mysterious and very definitely mischievous - never seen without his trilby hat and always immaculately dressed.

"He was always interested in our lives - taking us to see his beloved Arsenal and introducing some of us to pubs around Manor House."

She said he was never happier than when he was with his extended Irish family and his murder had caused deep upset.