'Cowardly' burglar, 40, 'headbutted and killed frail 86-year-old pensioner during nighttime raid on his London home'

Published: 19:30, 15 July 2026 | Updated: 19:32, 15 July 2026 A frail 86-year-old pensioner died after a 'cowardly' burglar allegedly headbutted and killed him during a nighttime raid on his London home. Ashley Malcolm, 40, is accused of murdering John Burke, who died the day after he was attacked in Hackney, east London, early on September 29 2025. That same day, Malcolm had broken into two homes and tried to force his way into a third, reacting 'violently' when challenged, the Old Bailey has heard.   Opening the trial today, Mukul Chawla KC said that it was during his first burglary, the defendant violently assaulted Mr Burke, headbutting him in the face. The prosecutor said: 'As a result of that cowardly assault, Mr Burke died in hospital on September 30 2025 in circumstances you may think are deeply unfortunate.' At the time, Mr Burke had been in poor health and suffered from a number of conditions including dementia, the court was told. Jurors heard that Mr Burke lived in a flat in Fountayne Road with his 91-year-old wife Peggy, both of whom were at home when Malcolm broke in. The burglary began shortly before midnight, with Malcolm inside the flat for an hour and a half before leaving with a wheeled shopping trolley bag he had got from the flat. John Burke, 86, who died the day after he was burgled at his London home. Ashley Malcolm, 40, is accused of murdering Mr Burke last September  Fountayne Road in Hackney, where the burglary took place on Monday September 29  He returned at 2.45am, having left the contents of the trolley bag at another address, and spent another 20 minutes inside the flat before leaving with a box under his arm. Mr Chawla said: 'What was it that gave him the confidence to return to that flat? Presumably, he wouldn't have done it if he was going to be disturbed.' Jurors were told Malcolm was tracked on CCTV and proceeded to burgle a residential care home in Hackney which he entered at 6.25am. He was confronted by a support worker and reacted by running towards him, making 'loud groaning noises' and allegedly reaching for something in his waistband. Just after 6.55am, Malcolm went on to attempt to burgle a flat in nearby Stamford Hill. He tried to force entry with a screwdriver but was unsuccessful. He was then challenged by the female occupant who was wearing just a towel, the court heard. 'Again, you will hear he acted violently towards her and her husband when confronted', Mr Chawla said. Following the alleged assault, Mr Burke was able to give a number of accounts about what had happened to a nurse who came to his home, paramedics, police and family members, the court heard. More evidence was gathered from CCTV cameras, police body-worn video, forensic investigations, post-mortem examinations on Mr Burke's body and CT scans of his head. Jurors were told that Malcolm had denied assaulting Mr Burke. Mr Chawla said: 'The prosecution say that the defendant violently headbutted Mr Burke. 'You will have to consider the fact that such an assault was committed against an obviously frail and vulnerable man of advancing years in order to determine whether the violence used by the defendant was intended by him to cause Mr Burke at least really serious physical harm.' Malcolm, of Hackney, east London, has admitted burgling Mr Burke's home of various items including food and medication, another burglary and attempted burglary. He has denied the murder and manslaughter of Mr Burke and assault inflicting actual bodily harm to the male occupant of the flat he tried to break into. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.