The man accused of beating to death 87-year-old John Mackey in London has told his Old Bailey trial he “feels responsible” because he stole the Irishman’s bag from his hand.
Peter Augustine (59), has pleaded not guilty to the murder and robbery of Mr Mackey, originally from Callan, Co Kilkenny, in May.
“Maybe the shock of me taking his bag made him fall down,” Mr Augustine told the trial.
Mr Mackey died in hospital two days after he was attacked on the street near his home in Manor House, north London on May 6th, after going out to buy sausage and chips for his dinner.
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The court heard he suffered extensive injuries in a “sustained assault” and died from blunt force trauma to his body and a brain bleed.
Mr Augustine told the court he “never hit” the Irishman. “I just took the bag and I ran,” he said.
Mr Augustine became highly agitated on numerous occasions while giving evidence on Monday, including shouting at the judge and also at barristers for both the defence and prosecution.
Prosecution barrister Jane Bickerstaff at one point asked the defendant “did you get this angry” when he encountered Mr Mackey.
Mr Augustine also directly addressed the jury in a highly emotional state, saying that if they convicted him he would die in prison.
He took the stand in his own defence on Monday afternoon and said he was born in London and lived there all his life, including for “many years” in Archway.
He said he was made homeless when he left his Archway home in April and that his sister began paying for him to stay in temporary accommodation.
“She paid for everything. I got on her nerves a lot,” he said.
He said on May 6th, he tried to visit his sister near Islington but she was not at home. He said they had argued a few days previously and she told him she could not give him any more money. He said he was hungry and had no money for food.
Mr Augustine became emotional as he told the court he had been “looking in bins” for something to eat.
He said he spotted Mr Mackey near the kebab shop where he bought his sausage and chips. He followed the Irishman to a secluded walkway where, Mr Augustine said, he took Mr Mackey’s bag containing his food from his hand.
Witnesses told the court last week they saw a man punching and stamping on Mr Mackey on the ground.
Mr Augustine said that was not him. He said he saw another man, a “crackhead”, at the scene.
“I never stamped on his chest. I didn’t do it.”
The accused said he later went to nearby Finsbury Park and cried about taking Mr Mackey’s bag.
“I thought: ‘I’ve just robbed a man for his food’,” he said.
Earlier on Monday, the trial heard from forensic pathologist Matthew Cieka, who said the injuries he found on Mr Mackey’s body could only have come from a sustained assault.
Mr Augustine walked out of the dock as the pathologist gave evidence.
The court also heard from Detective Glen Peach. He said Mr Augustine told police in interview that he had found Mr Mackey already “out cold” on the ground when he was out for a walk, and thought he was a “f***ing pisshead”.
Later, when Mr Augustine was on the stand, he was questioned about why he said in police interview that he found Mr Mackey on the ground, when he said in the dock that he took the bag from the Irishman’s hand as he walked.
Mr Augustine said what he told police was wrong and he must have had a “mental block”. He also said he was “not insane” and had no mental health issues.
The case continues at the Old Bailey.
