Eltham man guilty of stabbing pensioner to death

Reena Kumar, Reporter Thursday, January 26, 2012
12:07 PM

A 27-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a 79-year-old in his home who had previously suffered two strokes.

Andrew Monk, of Abergeldie Road, Eltham, attacked James Land as he sat in an armchair in his living room, stabbing him 11 times after repeatedly punching him in the face.

The pensioner of Whitefoot Terrace, Lewisham, had limited mobility after suffering from a stroke four years earlier and there was no evidence suggesting he had put up a fight on the fatal night on May 10 2011.

Speaking after he was found guilty on Monday (23) at the Old Bailey, Detective Inspector Graeme Gwyn, from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command said: “Andrew Monk tried to claim he was provoked by James Land, an elderly man who had difficulty walking around due to two previous strokes, into the extreme violence he used to kill him.

“There has never been any evidence to support this claim.

“He went to James Land’s house armed with a knife and killed him as he sat in his living room - a place where he should have felt and should have been safe.

“I am very pleased that the jury has returned a guilty verdict and that Monk will now face justice for the dreadful crime that he committed against a defenceless old man.”

Following the attack, the killer went to Beckenham Place Park, where he disposed of Mr Land’s blood stained clothing and the knife.

On the night of the murder, Mr Monk confessed to a number of people, including his ex-partner, his employer and his childhood friend that he had carried out the brutal attack.

He also confessed to police when he was arrested shortly afterwards.

The 28-year-old is due to be sentenced on March 12.