Man jailed for 12 years after beating neighbour, 75, to death over a garden gate

A man who beat his neighbour to death over closing a garden gate has been jailed for 12 years.

Trevor Gocan attacked 79-year-old James O’Neill, who was known as Jim, near their homes in Covent Garden, central London, last October.

He punched the pensioner so hard in the head that he suffered a bleed on the brain, and he died in hospital two weeks after the attack.

Gocan, 54, left Mr O’Neill bleeding on the ground near the home he had lived in for more than 40 years.

His wife Sara raised the alarm when Mr O’Neill failed to return home in time for their weekly Sunday roast. She looked over the balcony to see if she could spot him and found him on the ground.

Gocan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter last month and today he appearedat Southwark crown court where he was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Two thirds of his sentence will be served in prison before he can be considered for release on licence.

Mr and Mrs O’Neill were married for 49 years, and in a statement read in court his widow said he was ‘not only my husband but my soulmate’.

She has since put their flat on the market, feeling unable to continue to live in the home they had shared.

Mrs O’Neill added: ‘I feel depressed, often crying, haunted by dark thoughts.

‘I struggle to sleep and have recurring nightmares witnessing the love of my life bleeding on the floor.’

Gocan started an argument with O’Neill after the pensioner left a gate open on their estate.

Gocan was on his way to buy a sandwich at Pret A Manger while Mr O’Neill was on his way to buy a newspaper and go for a walk to ‘earn’ his Sunday roast.

During the trial, Gocan claimed he acted in self defence. He also said after attacking Mr O’Neill he went home and fed his cat.

CCTV showed the attack lasted for less than 90 seconds before Mr O’Neill fell to the ground with serious injuries.

Judge Sally-Ann Hales KC said told Gocan: ‘Your unlawful actions caused the death of Jim O’Neill, a much-loved father and grandfather.

‘You did not need to defend yourself – the truth is, you lost your temper and control. You walked away. Mr O’Neill did not.

‘He was much older than you. In his shorts and Crocs, he presented no serious threat. Had you genuinely felt threatened, you could have walked away.’

Defence barrister Benjamin Aina KC said the attack was ‘completely out of character’ and added that Gocan had no previous convictions.

However, he received a caution in 2012 for pushing his wife.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr O’Neill, who lost a loved one in shocking circumstances.

‘The killer acted disgracefully, punching and kicking his victim in full view of members of the public – among them children – on a busy Sunday morning.

‘The jury’s verdict shows that casual, thuggish violence will not be tolerated on London’s streets. There was absolutely no excuse for Gocan’s conduct.’

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