A man who gouged a pensioner’s eye before beating him to death with his own walking stick has been detained indefinitely.
Sekai Miles, 23, pleaded guilty to manslaughter over the killing of 87-year-old Bernard Fowler in a “brutal” attack outside Harold Wood station in east London early on 27 February last year.
The Old Bailey heard on Friday that Miles targeted Mr Fowler’s eyes, hit him in the head with his walking stick 19 times, and stamped on his head eight times.
The 23-year-old, from Brent Cross, Hendon, has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order with restrictions after the judge heard he needed ongoing treatment at Broadmoor secure psychiatric hospital.
Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC told the court that Mr Fowler, a retired mechanic, had gone to Harold Wood station to collect free newspapers for the community on the day of the incident.
He arrived at the station at 3.58am.
‘Truly shocking’ attack
Miles, meanwhile, had travelled to the station from Liverpool Street, and when asked to leave, told staff: “Touch me and I will kill you.”
He then tried to book a taxi to Brent Cross but missed his cab driver. Mr Aina said: “The defendant approached (Mr Fowler) and the attack began at about 4.03am.
“During the attack, the defendant gouges his eyes. He falls to the floor. The defendant then attacks him as he is lying helpless on the ground.
“He kicks Mr Fowler in the head, picks up his walking stick and then starts to hit him to the head with force. Mr Fowler is hit to the head 19 times.
“The defendant then stamps on Mr Fowler’s head eight times. The attack is truly shocking and appalling.”
Mr Aina said Miles initially walked away, but then returned and stood over Mr Fowler in a “triumphant stance” before running off holding the bloody stick in one hand and his trainers in the other when chased by police.
He was arrested after a struggle. A search of his rucksack revealed a number of religious leaflets that stated: “Are you saved? If you died today: Heaven or Hell?”
Miles denied murder, but pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Fowler by diminished responsibility and assaulting a police officer.
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Schizophrenia and ‘missed opportunities’
The prosecutor noted a highlighted text in a Bible that referred to sight being lost and restored, which he called “particularly pertinent as the defendant gouged out Mr Fowler’s eye during the attack and later threatened to ‘pluck out’ a police officer’s eye whilst in custody”.
The court was also told that Miles had paranoid schizophrenia and that there was evidence he had taken the synthetic cannabis drug known as spice in the past.
He had stopped taking medication after declaring that he had been “saved by God”.
Brenda Campbell KC, mitigating, added that Miles was “profoundly sorry,” had problems with his mental health from the age of 10, and reported hearing voices at the age of 12.
She said that after a gap of nearly a decade, he was admitted to hospital in January 2023 after a member of the public became concerned for his welfare.
Ms Campbell said Miles’ mother had raised concern that he was having “delusions about religion” but that he had stopped smoking cannabis.
The barrister suggested there were “missed opportunities” for medical professionals to spot the warning signs that Miles was unwell.
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In a statement released by British Transport Police, Mr Fowler’s family said “no sentence can ever bring our beloved Bernard back”.
They added: “Bernard was a kind, loving grandfather, father, and friend to everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
“He brought warmth and joy to so many lives, and his absence leaves a void that can never be filled. He will be deeply missed by all.”
Judge Judy Khan KC said she would outline her reason for the sentencing at a later date, and the court was told Miles was likely to spend years in the hospital before he was well enough to be released back into the community.
