Two found guilty of killing 83-year-old in bid to snatch his watch in Birmingham
Two men who killed an 83-year-old man in a failed bid to rob him of his watch outside a Birmingham rehabilitation centre are facing jail for his manslaughter.
Neil O’Donnell had just pulled into the unit based in Shaftmoor Lane in Hall Green in Birmingham intending to visit his partner when career criminal Tony Griffin, who was armed with what was believed to be screwdriver, ran up to his car and tried to grab the watch from his wrist.
West Midlands Police said the victim managed to fend off Griffin off who was chased away by centre staff.
Neil was treated in hospital for an arm injury caused by Griffin grappling with him and later discharged, but his health deteriorated, and he died from complications arising from an infection caused by the injury a week after the attack, which happened on May 14 this year.
An investigation established how accomplice Wesley McDonnell had arrived at a nearby Co-op store at the same time as Neil around 30 minutes before the attack.
McDonnell was seen on security camera footage looking at Neil’s watch. He picked up Griffin nearby and the men were then pictured following Neil’s car as it left the car park on the short journey to the rehabilitation centre, where the attack happened.
Griffin, aged 54, was captured on CCTV dumping his top and cap in a wheelie bin as he fled the scene on foot and both men were identified by officers.
Wesley McDonnell, aged 46, was identified due to facial recognition from CCTV images with further inquiries identifying Tony Griffin as his accomplice.
The pair, of College Road, Birmingham, were both found guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Warwick Crown Court. Griffin had admitted attempted robbery at an earlier hearing, and McDonnell was found guilty of the same offence on November 21.
Griffin has 14 previous convictions for 32 offences including burglary, robbery and kidnapping.
McDonnell has 29 convictions for 85 offences, including burglary, wounding with intent and robbery.
Detective Inspector Nigel Box, from West Midlands Police's Homicide team, said: “This was a violent attack on an elderly man who was simply going about his day.
“You can see from the footage that the struggle lasted some time, and Griffin was clearly determined to take the watch, despite Neil resisting.
“We were able to show that the injury to Neil’s arm directly led to his death, and the CCTV showed Griffin and McDonnell as the two men involved.
“They are both career criminals and wrongly assumed Neil would be an easy target.
“Neil’s death has been devastating for his family, who have asked for privacy while they continue to grieve. We have supported them throughout the court process, and our thoughts are with them today.”
Griffin and McDonnell will be sentenced in January.
