Shocking moment two Harrods workers punched and kicked homeless man, 51, to the floor in Trafalgar Square in attack that led to his death
- Homeless Desmond O’Beirne died after suffering from a serious head injury
- Lucas Antunes, 22, punched the 51-year-old sending him to the ground
- Luis Abella then carried on the attack and kicked him to the ground
- Mr O’Beirne died from a brain injury last year and had caught pneumonia in hospital
Lucas Antunes (pictured above) pleaded guilty to man slaughter
Two Harrods workers are facing jail after they were caught attacking a homeless man in Trafalgar Square, who later died after suffering from a serious head injury.
Lucas Antunes, plead guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey.
The 22-year-old had punched Desmond O’Beirne after the homeless man had asked for a cigarette.
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When the pair refused Mr O’Beirne walked away.
Antunes’ friend, Luis Abella then kicked the 51-year-old.
Mr O’Beirne had allegedly threatened to ‘shank them’ at around midnight on June 3, 2017, when the pair had refused to give him a cigarette.
Mr O’Beirne died from a brain injury on December 20 last year. He suffered a serious head injury and clung to life in the Royal London hospital after a screw was fitted in his skull to relieve pressure.
But he caught pneumonia and died.
Antunes, of Tottenham, north London, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey earlier in December. His co-defendant, from Lambeth, admitted attempted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on Friday 21 December.
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The pair are set to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on February 8.
Bailing Abella, Judge Wendy Joseph QC said: ‘Do not read into that any indication of what the sentence might be at the end.’
Earlier this year, police offered £20,000 to anyone who could help them track down the culprits.
Luis Abella (left) is facing jail after he was caught on CCTV kicking Desmond O’Beirne (right)
Mr O’Beirne was filmed running away from his attackers near the National Gallery before he was floored with a single punch.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, of Scotland Yard, said: ‘This is a tremendous result. We have got some justice for Desmond and his family.
‘He was punched in the back of the head and kicked while he was on the ground. He was out on a night out and he suffered injuries which would put him in a coma for six months.
CCTV footage from the Metropolitan Police shows the incident close to Trafalgar Square in London
‘This case shows the power of the media supporting us and the amazing public coming forward to support this prosecution.
‘Without you we would not have secured a conviction.’
The victim, originally from Ireland, was said to have had an itinerant lifestyle and had a sister living in Wales.
Mr McHugh expressed the hope that she would now be able to rebuild her life.
Abella had originally faced a manslaughter charge but it changed to the lesser charge following a review.
Antunes returned to Britain to face justice after authorities in the United States found him.
Mr McHugh said: ‘Combined with some brilliant detective work in the UK, a huge thank you to our American partners who tracked him down and brought him back so swiftly.’
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