A man has denied murdering an 87-year-old grandfather who was fatally stabbed while riding his mobility scooter.
Lee Byer, 44, pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to the murder of Thomas O’Halloran in Greenford, west London, on 16 August.
Mr O’Halloran, who was said to be well known in the local community, collapsed from his mobility scooter outside Runnymede Gardens having been stabbed repeatedly.
Police were alerted by a member of the public who had found the badly injured victim travelling in his scooter from a passageway that runs between Runneymede Gardens and Welland Gardens at around 4pm.
Mr O’Halloran was able to tell the passer-by that he had been stabbed, although wounds to his body were clearly visible. By the time officers arrived minutes later, he 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. A post-mortem examination found he 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.
Mobility scooter rider Thomas O’Halloran was repeatedly stabbed in neck and chest, court hears
Thomas O’Halloran: Family of pensioner stabbed to death on mobility scooter in ‘complete numbness’
Man charged with murder after Thomas O’Halloran stabbed to death on mobility scooter in Greenford, west London
The defendant, who is in custody, faces a trial of up to three weeks on 2 May next year. There will be a pre-trial hearing in February.
Mr O’Halloran, originally from County Clare in the west of Ireland, was a passionate musician and was described as “very popular” in Greenford.
He was known for busking outside his local supermarket and Greenford station to raise money for charity, including for Ukraine.
