Lee Byer charged with the death of 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran in Ealing
Who Is Lee Byer?
The 44-year-old man arrested in connection to the death of the 87-year-old man in Ealing has been named Lee Byer.
Byer, of Allenby Avenue, UB12, was identified after he was seen on CCTV running away from the crime scene with blood stains and a knife.
A murder investigation was launched on Tuesday, 16 August, after 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran was stabbed to death at Runnymede Gardens, by the junction with Cayton Road, Greenford.
Officers and London Ambulance Service responded, but despite the effort, the 87-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives suspect that O’Halloran was stabbed in Western Avenue shortly before 16:06hrs on Tuesday before he managed to travel 75 yards to Runnymede Gardens, where he sought help.
Byer will appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 19 August.
The police have continued to update O’Halloran’s family and have pleaded for privacy for the family in this difficult time.
Detectives believed they had the right man and were not in search of anyone else.
Officers have appealed to the public and the media to refrain from sharing or publishing anything that may create a substantial risk of serious prejudice that could undermine legal proceedings now that the matter is on trial.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood leading the investigation, said, “I would like to thank the public for their overwhelming support following this horrific incident. As a result of the release of a CCTV image yesterday, an arrest has been made, and this investigation is progressing at pace.”
After Mr O’Halloran was stabbed, the police released a CCTV of Byer running away from the scene leading to his arrest in Southall in the early hours of Thursday, 18 August.
It is unclear why Byer stabbed O’Halloran, but police described it as an “unprovoked attack.”
Residents described O’Halloran, originally from West of Ireland as a “passionate musician” and “very popular” in Greenford.
O’Halloran’s granddaughter, Cindy O’Neill, 37, told The Telegraph that her granddad was “a lovely person; we are in a state of shock. It’s terrible. I can’t think straight.”
Investigators are appealing to anyone with footage of the incident to upload it using this online form:Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
If you have any other information about the murder, please call the incident room on 020 8358 0300 quoting 4691/16AUG.
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by visiting.
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