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6 months ago
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A paranoid schizophrenic career criminal was today sent to Broadmoor indefinitely after he admitted killing a grandfather riding his mobility scooter in a 'motiveless' attack five days after being released from prison.
Former armed robber Lee Byer, who has 15 convictions for 30 crimes, stabbed Thomas O'Halloran, 87, in the neck and chest in a west London underpass.
As Byer fled, his dying victim - who had been busking to raise money for Ukraine - travelled for 75 yards on his scooter desperately trying to find someone to help him before bleeding to death.
Mr O'Halloran's family told of their fury after the prosecution accepted Byer's plea to the lesser offence of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and dropped its murder case.
It followed mental health reports that found Byer, 45, was psychotic, hearing voices, suffering from paranoid delusions and paranoid schizophrenia.
Thomas O'Halloran, 87, was fatally stabbed in the neck and chest in Greenford, west London
Lee Byer (pictured) murdered Mr O'Halloran in August 2022
Byer (pictured on CCTV) had a string of previous convictions, and days earlier had been released from Wormwood Scrubs
'He was minding his own business doing what he loved': Grandson's heartfelt victim impact statement
In a victim impact statement, Mr O'Holloran's grandson Dennis Lintern, who lived with his mother and grandad said: 'Our family dynamic was always one where Grandad was seen as head of the household.
'Grandad was a gentle, loving man who spent his whole life working and helping everyone he could. He was taken in a horrendous act of cowardice by the defendant who has not only taken my grandfather's life but devastated and took something from everyone who knew him.
'He was minding his own business doing what he loved-playing the accordion to make people smile and enjoy his music which he had done for many years. He was a character, he would always stand up for others if he saw something that was wrong.
'He loved music, and when he wasn't busking he would write music or practice the accordion at home. He was keen to get involved and made lots of friends around the community.'
Prosecutor Gareth Patterson KC said the defendant's mental state provided an explanation for what was a 'motiveless attack'.
Grandfather Mr O'Halloran was originally from Co Clare in western Ireland and had been well known in the local community.
He was said to be a passionate musician and described as 'very popular' in Greenford, often busking for charity.
Footage on social media showed him busking to raise money for Ukraine months before the killing.
Shortly after 4pm on August 16, 2022, police received a 999 call from a member of the public who found the victim on his scooter coming from a passageway that runs between Runneymede Gardens and Welland Gardens.
Mr O'Halloran was able to tell the passer-by that he had been stabbed, although wounds to his body were clearly visible, the Old Bailey has previously heard.
The police arrived within minutes and 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.
A post-mortem examination found he had suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen.
Mr O'Halloran and the defendant were caught on CCTV heading towards the passageway where their paths crossed.
The footage showed that, apart from Byer, no-one else went into or out of the area when the victim was attacked.
When he left the passageway, a knife could be seen in Byer's hand.
Byer pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey on April 29 (Pictured: A court sketch from August 19)
Mr O'Halloran's mobility scooter with the Ukrainian flag's colours in Greenford in August 2022
Mr O'Halloran (pictured), who was said to be well known in the local community, collapsed from his mobility scooter outside Runnymede Gardens having been stabbed
He was caught on camera depositing a knife handle in a drain in Haymill Close on the way back to his mother's house.
Forensic analysis found the victim's blood on the handle, although the blade was never found.
Clothes matching those seen on CCTV were found in a search of the property as well as a knife set with handles similar to the one found in the drain.
After CCTV images of the suspect were released in the media, Byer was identified by people working in the criminal justice system.
After being arrested at his mother's house on August 18, Byer told police: 'Murder, I was in prison at the time.'
Clothes matching those seen on CCTV were found in a search of the property as well as a knife set with handles similar to the one found in the drain.
Flowers, candles and a vial of holy water were laid at the site near where Mr O'Halloran was murdered
Flowers outside the Tesco in Perivale, where Mr O'Halloran used to play his accordion. Picture: August 19, 2022
Police also alleged Byer had tried to burn the clothes he was wearing in his mother's garden.
In police interviews, he denied being the suspect caught on CCTV, claiming he was in his mother's garden or the park at the time.
Byer had 15 previous convictions recorded against him for 30 offences dating back to when he was 14.
In 2011, he was convicted of robbery and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
On August 11 2022, Byer had been released from Wormwood Scrubs.
Flowers outside a Tesco superstore where Thomas O'Halloran used to busk
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