In August 2022, a tragic incident unfolded in Greenford, west London, where 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran was fatally stabbed by Lee Byer. O’Halloran, a well-loved local busker known for his charity work, was attacked while on his mobility scooter in an alleyway. Byer, who had recently been released from prison, admitted to manslaughter by diminished responsibility, attributing the attack to his mental health issues, including psychosis and paranoid schizophrenia.

Lee Byer, now detained at Broadmoor high-security psychiatric hospital, denied the charge of murder but accepted the charges of manslaughter and possessing an offensive weapon. The prosecution recognized his compromised mental state at the time of the attack. CCTV footage played a crucial role in Byer’s apprehension, which occurred at his mother’s house shortly after the attack.

Thomas O’Halloran, affectionately known as “Terry” by locals and celebrated as the “uncrowned king of Greenford,” was remembered by former Labour MP Stephen Pound for his cheerful and compassionate nature. The community remains shocked by the senseless nature of the crime, especially given Byer’s background of previous convictions. His sentencing has been scheduled for 10 May, as the community continues to mourn the loss of a beloved figure.