78-year-old man accused of stabbing burglar to death ‘deserves a medal,’ say friends

He has been bailed until May, pending further enquiries

A 78-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after "stabbing a burglar to death" in the early hours of Wednesday April 4, but many are saying he deserves a medal for his actions. Fury is growing at the arrest of Richard Osborn-Brooks, who was woken by two men breaking into his suburban home in south-east London as he lay sleeping next to his wife Maureen. [caption id="attachment_171070" align="alignnone" width="6192"] A man aged 78 has been arrested by police on suspicion of murder (Credit: Dan Kitwood)[/caption] One of the men, reportedly armed with a screwdriver, died following a struggle inside the house. Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder. A friend of Mr Osborn-Brooks lamented the decision, writing on Facebook: "So a 78-year-old man gets burgled by two men. "There is a scuffle and the old man has slight injuries but managed to stab one of the burglars and he shortly died. "The other burglar is on the run but the 78-year-old is arrested for murder. "So this is British justice is it? Where is our protection? "The old man deserves a medal and to be let free. I really can’t believe this has happened to him. I am in total shock." [caption id="attachment_171071" align="alignnone" width="6310"] A forensic team search a street where the man died on April 4 (Credit: Dan Kitwood)[/caption] A police spokesperson said: "The 78-year-old resident had found two males inside his address. "One suspect went upstairs while the homeowner was forced into the kitchen by the second suspect, armed with a screwdriver. "A struggle had ensued in the kitchen during which one of the males found inside the property sustained a stab wound to the upper body." The second of the two men escaped the scene and is now being hunted by police.

---

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CAD214/4Apr or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.