Cricklewood pensioner facing life in jail for killing nephew who he thought was burglar

 
Death: Ezekiel McCarthy stabbed Desbert Welsh at a flat on Brondesbury Park, Cricklewood
4 December 2012
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A pensioner faces jail today for killing his nephew after mistaking him for a burglar.

Ezekiel McCarthy, 85, one of the oldest people to appear at the Old Bailey, was confused when he plunged a knife into Desbert Welsh, 50.

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

Mr Welsh died on November 13 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.

They arrived at McCarthy's home in the early hours and in the morning, he stabbed Mr Welsh.

McCarthy said: "This bloody man. I don't know how he got in my room."

He later told police: "I was defending myself."

Jonathan Rees, QC, prosecuting, said: "This is a dreadfully sad case involving the killing of a nephew by his uncle, thinking he was an unknown intruder."

Mr Welsh died three days later from a stab wound which pierced his liver and caused complications.

Medical reports indicated that McCarthy had suffered an acute episode of delirium or confusion brought about by medical conditions linked to his age.

Alex Milne QC, defending, said the death had had an impact on the whole family.

McCarthy could not believe what he had done and could not associate the victim with his nephew.

Mr Milne said: "He is destroyed. He is mortified. He could not in his wildest dreams harm his nephew."

Judge Peter Beaumont, the Recorder of London, warned McCarthy that all options were open to the court.

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