Home UK Accomplice of Hither Green suspect killed in botched burglary released without charge

Accomplice of Hither Green suspect killed in botched burglary released without charge

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A man arrested after a pensioner fatally stabbed a burglar in Hither Green has been released without charge, police have said.

Billy Jeeves, 28, was detained in connection with the botched burglary on the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, a 78-year-old from Hither Green, south-east London, in April.

The pensioner stabbed and killed one of the suspects, Henry Vincent, 37, as he tried to defend his South Park Crescent home, but Vincents accomplice fled the scene.

Caption: Undated Metropolitan Police handout photo of Billy Jeeves, 28, who is being sought by police following an aggravated burglary in South Park Crescent, Hither Green, south-east London, at around 12.45am on Wednesday April 4. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday April 9, 2018. Seventy-eight-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murdering intruder Henry Vincent, 37, who died following a struggle in the botched raid at his home, but was told he will face no further action over the death. See PA story POLICE HitherGreen. Photo credit should read: Metropolitan Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder. Photographer: Metropolitan Police Provider: PA Source: PA

Billy Jeeves, 28, was detained in connection with the botched burglary on the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks, a 78-year-old from Hither Green, south-east London, in April (Picture: PA)

Rex Features Ltd. do not claim any Copyright or License of the attached image Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (9518957g) Henry Vincent Richard Osborn-Brooks arrested on suspicion of murder after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death in his home, London, UK - 04 Apr 2018 Mr Osborn-Brooks was forced into his kitchen by one of two men who broke into his home armed with a screwdriver. Police said that while the other suspected home invader was upstairs, a scuffle broke out between Mr Osborn-Brooks and burglar Henry Vincent in the kitchen. During the struggle, the 38-year-old intruder was stabbed in the upper body at the house in Hither Green, south east London. Vincent was taken to hospital but died at 3.37am. Mr Osborn-Brooks, who has been arrested and bailed over the killing, is believed to care for his wife who has dementia or is disabled. Vincent was being hunted by police when he died for another raid on a pensioner's home in Farningham, Kent. Police appealed in January to trace Vincent (releasing this picture) and another man, Bill Jeeves, over the theft in November last year.

Henry Vincent, 37, was stabbed by the pensioner as he tried to defend his home (Picture: Rex)

On Friday, police said the 28-year-old suspect had been released with no further action, having been on bail since April 20.

Detectives found insufficient evidence to support a charge of burglary following an extensive investigation including a forensic examination of the crime scene, according to the force.

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Mr Osborn-Brooks was previously released without charge over his role in Vincents death.

Rex Features Ltd. do not claim any Copyright or License of the attached image Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (9518957a) First pictures of Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, the elderly homeowner who is being questioned by police on suspicion of murder after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death. Richard Osborn-Brooks arrested on suspicion of murder after a suspected burglar was stabbed to death in his home, London, UK - 04 Apr 2018 Mr Osborn-Brooks was forced into his kitchen by one of two men who broke into his home armed with a screwdriver. Police said that while the other suspected home invader was upstairs, a scuffle broke out between Mr Osborn-Brooks and the burglar in the kitchen. During the struggle, the 38-year-old intruder was stabbed in the upper body at the house in Hither Green, south east London. The burglar was taken to hospital but died at 3.37am. Mr Osborn-Brooks, who has been arrested over the killing, is believed to care for his wife who has dementia or is disabled and a neighbour has described him as " a lovely old man." Mr Osborn-Brooks is pictured here on his "open" Facebook page drinking guinness.

Richard Osborn-Brooks was released without charge (Picture: Rex)

Investigation launched after man dies following suspected burglary Metropolitan Police - Apr 04, 2018 11:35 BST Officers from the Met???s Homicide and Major Crime Command are investigating the death of a man in Lewisham. At 00:45hrs on Wednesday, 4 April, police were called by a homeowner to reports of a burglary in progress at an address in South Park Crescent, Hither Green SE6, and a man injured. The 78-year-old resident found two males inside the address. A struggle ensued between one of the males and the homeowner. The man, aged 37, sustained a stab wound to the upper body. London Ambulance Service took the injured male, who was found collapsed in Further Green Road, SE8, to a central London hospital. He was pronounced dead at 03:37hrs.

The death of the burglar sparked a series of extraordinary showdowns between his grieving family and Mr Osborn-Brookss supporters (Picture: Alexander Crawley)

The death of the burglar sparked a series of extraordinary showdowns between his grieving family and Mr Osborn-Brookss supporters.

Vincents friends and family riled residents in the neighbourhood by laying flowers and cards opposite the scene of his final crime.

The tributes were repeatedly torn down – only to be tied back up again by angry mourners.

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