Man killed his neighbour, 74, in row over shutting a gate in Covent Garden

A 74-year-old man was punched and kicked to death by his neighbour in a row over a garden gate in front of members of the public.

James O’Neill, known as ‘Jim’, was killed in Covent Garden after Trevor Gocan launched the attack in Odhams Walk, close to both men’s homes, in October.

Gocan then left the pensioner bleeding on the floor of the estate he had called home for more than 40 years.

Jim was taken to hospital but died two weeks later after being punched so hard he suffered a bleed on the brain.

On the morning of the attack, Gocan left his home to grab a sandwich at a Pret A Manger in the London shopping area.

James had also gone to Covent Garden to get a newspaper. Neither men realised they were neighbours.

James told his wife he was heading out for a walk to ‘earn’ his Sunday roast, a weekly ritual he and his wife enjoyed, prosecutor Lisa Wilding KC said.

‘When he hadn’t returned home by 12pm, Mrs O’Neill went out to see if she could see him,’ she told the court.

‘[She] looked over a balcony and saw him on the ground below – the assault having already taken place.’

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr O’Neill, who lost a loved one in shocking circumstances.

‘The killer acted disgracefully, punching and kicking his victim in full view of members of the public – among them children – on a busy Sunday morning.

‘The jury’s verdict shows that casual, thuggish violence will not be tolerated on London’s streets. There was absolutely no excuse for Gocan’s conduct.’

Mohammed Rahman, a security guard at the clothing store, saw the confrontation.

Gocan, still holding a sandwich he had bought earlier, pointed a finger at James ‘as if ready to fight’.

‘[He said] Mr Gocan stepped forward and punched Mr O’Neill in the face using the hand he still had the sandwich in,’ Wilding said of the guard’s remarks.

‘He saw something drop from Mr O’Neill’s mouth, which he thought was blood. He then saw the defendant put his sandwich on the floor and kick Mr O’Neill, with a lot of force behind it.

‘Mr O’Neill remained on his feet for two to three seconds before he fell to the floor and landed on his side.

‘The defendant then stood over him, as if ready to do more.’

A grandmother, mother, daughter and her 12-year-old brother were shopping when the girl, Chloe Samuels, saw James lying on the floor.

‘I shouted, “There’s a man being beaten up”. It all happened very quickly,’ she said.

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