Lee Byer, 44, remanded in custody charged with murder of pensioner Thomas O'Halloran

Lee Byer, 44, remanded in custody charged with murder of pensioner Thomas O'Halloran
Mark White O Halloran
Mark White

By Mark White


Published: 19/08/2022

- 10:51

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:44

A west London man has appeared in court charged with the murder of pensioner Thomas O'Halloran, who was fatally stabbed on his mobility scooter

Lee Byer, 44, appeared briefly at Willesden Magistrates Court in north London on Friday.

Wearing a prison-issue grey tracksuit, he spoke only to confirm his name, his date of birth and that he had no fixed address.


He is charged with murdering 87-year-old Mr O’Halloran, as he drove his mobility scooter along Western Avenue in Greenford, next to the busy A40.

Byer is also charged with possession of a knife.

The incident happened at around 4pm on Tuesday.

Thomas O'Halloran
Thomas O'Halloran
Metropolitan Police

A Serco prison van leaves Willesden Magistrates' Court in north west London, where Lee Byer, 44, of Southall, west London, is due to appear on Friday charged with the murder of 87-year-old Thomas O'Halloran, who was stabbed to death as he rode in his mobility scooter in Greenford, west London, on Tuesday. Picture date: Friday August 19, 2022.
Lee Byer appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on Friday
Jonathan Brady

After being stabbed in the chest, the pensioner managed to drive his mobility scooter for another 75 metres, until he came across members of the public who tried to help.

Despite the efforts of paramedics and the London Air Ambulance, Mr O’Halloran, originally from County Clare in the west of Ireland, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The pensioner’s family, including a sister, brothers and nieces and nephews, is being supported by specialist officers.

Mr O’Halloran was a well-known face in the Greenford area, and would often busk outside the local Tube station.

The day after his death, police released CCTV images of a man seen running from the area around the time of the stabbing.

Within hours, detectives had a name and address and armed officers raided a property in Southall, west London.

Lee Byer was remanded in custody and will appear at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, on 23 August.

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