Pensioner Who Kills Nephew Avoids Prison

4 December 2012, 18:38 | Updated: 4 December 2012, 18:41

A pensioner who killed his nephew after mistaking him for a burglar has walked free from court after a judge took pity on him.

85 year old Ezekiel McCarthy,  one of the oldest people to appear at the Old Bailey, was jailed for nine months.

But the sentence was suspended for two years on condition that he is supervised during that time.

Judge Peter Beaumont said it was extremely unlikely he would offend again.

The Old Bailey heard McCarthy was confused when he stabbed 50 year old Desbert Welsh.

Last month, he denied murder and his plea to manslaughter was accepted by the prosecution.

Mr Welsh died on November 13th last year at McCarthy's ground-floor flat in sheltered accommodation at Brondesbury Park, Cricklewood, north London.

The pair had been drinking and celebrating McCarthy's birthday a few days earlier.