A majority verdict from the jury at the Old Bailey just before Christmas saw James Roberts, 32, of Ambleside Avenue, Hornchurch convicted of murdering 60-year-old Aiden O’Mahony. The guilty man will be sentenced at a further hearing at the Old Bailey on 6th January 2017.
The verdict comes nearly a year after the victim (pictured) was watching football with his friends in the JJ Moon’s pub on High Street in Hornchurch when an argument developed between him and his killer. Roberts became increasingly aggressive and a bar worker asked him to leave the pub. Roberts then attacked the bar worker. O’Mahony tried to stop him and eventually agreed to take his disagreement outside the pub. As soon as they left the pub, Roberts stabbed O’Mahony in the chest. Some customers of the pub gave him emergency first aid, while others stopped Roberts getting back into the pub. O’Mahony was taken to the Royal London Hospital, but died shortly afterwards from the injury sustained when he was stabbed. Police launched a murder inquiry, quickly identified their suspect, and Roberts gave himself in.
Detective Inspector Garry Moncrieff, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, who led the investigation, described the injustice of the murder, saying, “There was no reason for Aiden to die that afternoon. He was doing no more than enjoying a drink with friends and watching football. Aiden did not know Roberts and Roberts did not know Aiden. Roberts was in a foul and aggressive mood and decided to just take it out on anyone who he felt crossed him. Aiden tried to help a member of staff who was being violently threatened by Roberts after she asked him to leave. Aiden’s brave intervention unfortunately cost him his life. […] Following Roberts’ conviction my first thoughts lie with Aiden’s family at what must be a very difficult time. I hope that they will at some point be able to move forward from this tragic event.”
James Roberts sentenced for murder: http://londonbangla.com/life-jail-hornchurch-murderer/
•The police investigation into the murder of Ricky Hayden in Chadwell Heath in September is moving towards a conclusion. Tommy Roome, 19, of Rams Grove, Romford was charged with murder on 22nd September and appeared at the Old Bailey on 13th December for a plea and case preparation hearing. He will appear for trial at the Old Bailey on 13 March 2017. In a new development on 22nd December, Tarrel Hinds, 19, of Manford Cross, Chigwell was charged with murder and attempted murder and Kevin Malamba, 19, of Rodney Road, Southwark was charged with perverting the course of justice. Both men appear at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court just before Christmas. No further action is being taken against a 16-year-old teenager who was arrested in September and bailed.
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