A woman was jailed for life with a minimum term of 30 years in London today for killing a 91-year-old Irish man with a bottle of wine.
Melanie Cole (49), battered retired builder William Reilly over his head with a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, four days after last Christmas.
Mr Reilly, originally from Prison, Balla, Co Mayo was found covered in blood sitting on the edge of his bed by his son James at their home in Tower Gardens, Tottenham, north London.
He suffered head and face injuries after being clubbed with the full bottle of wine and then a bottle of liqueur, the Old Bailey heard. The pensioner, registered blind and almost completely deaf, died a week later in hospital after developing pneumonia.
Cole, of Culford Road, Islington, north London, was found guilty of murder.
Zoe Johnson, prosecuting, said Cole killed Mr Reilly for the money he had in his coat pocket. “He was murdered for money,” she said.
Cole had previously stolen money from him after befriending his family. She used to turn up unannounced and was the last person to visit the house before Mr Reilly was attacked.
Judge David Paget told her: “It may be that you will never be released and may die in prison.
“You battered to death a 91-year-old man in his home in order to get money from him for drink or drugs. It may have been only £20. What is truly shocking is the brutality of what you did.”
Mr Reilly’s son Sean said in a statement he was much loved by all his friends and family and would be greatly missed. “He stood for decency and integrity- qualities which Melanie Cole knew nothing about,” he said.
It was the third time Cole had appeared at the Old Bailey charged with murder.
She was formally acquitted of murder in 2005 when two juries failed to reach verdicts in the case of Robin Williams (47).
Mr Williams was hit over the head with a bottle and stabbed. He was found in a bath at his Tottenham home.
The jury was not told of the previous case because it would have been prejudicial, the court heard.
PA