A man who was killed while riding a mobility scooter was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, chest and abdomen, a court has heard.
Thomas O’Halloran, 87, died in Greenford, west London, on Tuesday 16 August after what prosecutors described as a “vicious attack”.
Lee Byer, 44, has appeared at the Old Bailey charged with Mr O’Halloran’s murder in a case set to go to trial in May.
During a pre-trial hearing this morning, the court heard Mr O’Halloran told a passerby he had been stabbed as wounds to his body were clearly visible.
Police received a 999 call from a member of the public who found the victim travelling in his scooter from a passageway that runs between Runneymede Gardens and Welland Gardens.
The police arrived within minutes to find Mr O’Halloran had collapsed and was being helped by members of the public.
Police and medics took over first aid but he was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.54pm.
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A post-mortem examination found the grandfather, who was known “throughout the local community”, had sustained multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen.
Byer, of no fixed address, was charged on 19 August with Mr O’Halloran’s murder and possessing a large knife..
He appeared in court by video link from custody at Belmarsh prison wearing a grey tracksuit on Tuesday.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC set a plea hearing for 8 November with a provisional trial of up to three weeks from 2 May 2023.
He remanded Byer into custody.
Mr O’Halloran, originally from County Clare in the west of Ireland, was a passionate musician and described as “very popular” in Greenford, often busking for charity.
Footage on social media shows him busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.
He is survived by his family, including his sister, two brothers, nieces and nephews.
Fine Gael senator Martin Conway said Mr O’Halloran visited Ireland regularly and that his death has left his home community in Ennistymon in “deep shock and sadness”.
“Tommy, as he was known, left Ennistymon for London 71 years ago but travelled home almost every year until about 10 years ago,” he said.
