Man jailed for killing stranger in random attack and assaulting three other people
A man has been jailed for killing a stranger in a random attack and assaulting three other people.
Patrick Beckley, 32, of no fixed address, was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he randomly attacked and killed a man who was unknown to him.
Beckley was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Monday to life with a minimum of 21 years imprisonment having been convicted at an earlier hearing of the murder of 59-year-old Michael Lavery, as well as actual bodily harm of two other men and assault on an emergency worker.
Mr Lavery died last year on Friday October 16, after being assaulted inside his home address off Reddown Road, Coulsdon.
Officers attended the scene just before 9.30pm following reports of a man seriously injured.
They found Mr Lavery suffering head injuries and stab wounds and he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 10pm.
A special post-mortem examination gave cause of death as blunt force trauma and stab wounds.
Beckley was located and arrested near to the scene and taken into custody.
It was established that he had attacked Mr Lavery in a random assault with Beckley suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time.
Another man was also assaulted, as well as an officer who responded.
Beckley and Michael were not known to each other and no clear motive was ever established.
A spokesperson for Mr Lavery’s family said: “Our dad was an incredibly kind, generous, lovey man. He was a wonderful dad and granddad. He is missed terribly every day and will forever be dearly loved.
“We are grateful to the police for their thorough investigation which ultimately brought the offender to Justice.”
After sentencing the judge praised the responding officers who battled to save Mr Lavery’s life at the scene, as well as that of the investigative team for their ‘meticulous investigation’.
Detective Sergeant Jason Crinnion, of Specialist Crime South Area, based at Lewisham Police Station, said: “Beckley is a dangerous and violent offender and will now serve a substantial amount of time in prison following this horrendous crime.
“Michael was no threat at all that day. Beckley’s attack was random and violent and left Michael’s family devastated as a result.”
Pictured top: Patrick Beckley