Image copyright Kent Police/PA Wire Image caption Henry Vincent, 37, has been named as the suspected burglar who died

Several papers lead on the arrest of a 78-year-old man on suspicion of murdering a suspected burglar, named locally as Richard Osborn-Brooks.

The Metro says he apparently stabbed the intruder in a struggle in his home in south east London.

The Daily Mail says the case will reignite the debate about the rights of homeowners to defend themselves.

Elsewhere, an explanation of the law as it currently stands is given by the Sun.

It says people can use reasonable force to protect themselves and others in their own homes. The paper adds individuals are only likely to be prosecuted if "very excessive force" has been used.

Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

Writing in the Daily Mirror, the shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, accuses the government of "being in denial" about the rise in serious crime in London.

She suggests ministers need to address the role social media plays in fuelling violence, and says Labour would recruit more police.

This is a dangerous moment for the prime minister, the i suggests. The Tories consider themselves the party of law and order but "should remember that such reputations can be lost," the paper says.

'Nicest guy in football'

Other front pages take the opportunity to pay tribute to the ex-England captain, Ray Wilkins, who has died at the age of 61.

The Daily Star calls him a "Three Lions Legend".

The Mirror says "Butch", as Wilkins was known, was loved by fans for his "huge ability on the pitch, and "treasured by colleagues" for his kindness and generosity off it.

Wilkins' former club Chelsea described him as one of the nicest guys in football, reports the Sun.

It recalls how, when Wilkins became a manager, one of his trainees wanted to phone his mum after he made his debut only to find Wilkins had paid for her to travel to the ground as a surprise.

Free school meals gap

Fat-related NHS admissions have doubled in four years, according to the Sun.

It says "tubby women" are fuelling the rise accounting for two thirds of the 617,000 admissions last year.

The i, meanwhile, focuses on those potentially going hungry, as it suggests that up to 100,000 children from low-income families could lose out on free school meals.

The Institute for Fiscal studies, which provided the figure, blames the government's decision not to take inflation into account when working out who is entitled to the meals in coming years.

And finally, the Daily Express reports the England team at the Commonwealth Games was confused with the Gambia in the competition's souvenir guide.

In its editorial, the Times says England should be flattered by the mix-up.

Granted, the Gambia has only ever won one Commonwealth medal, but it has done so while being the 15th poorest country in the world.

In addition, it says, the Gambia boasts "cool music, cool people and a cool flag. What's not to like?"</s>A pensioner has been arrested after a suspected burglar was killed during a violent tussle at his home.

The 78-year-old was held on suspicion of murder after the 38-year-old died of his wounds in hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Police said the struggle broke out after the pensioner, named locally as Richard Osborn-Brooks, found two men inside his home in South Park, Hither Green, south London shortly after midnight.

One of the burglars, who was armed with a screwdriver, forced the homeowner into his kitchen while his accomplice went upstairs.

Detectives believe a struggle then took place between "one of the males and the homeowner" and the 38-year-old intruder was stabbed in the upper body.

He was later found collapsed in nearby Further Green Road by paramedics from London Ambulance Service, who took him to a central London hospital where he died at 3.37am. Police were unable to confirm whether the suspect had been stabbed with the screwdriver.

The second suspect fled the scene before police arrived and is now being hunted by the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command.

Gordon Williams, a local resident, said: "I could hear people moaning in the street and just thought it was someone drunk. I saw the body laid in the street and another guy jump in a van and leave.</s>LONDON — British police say a 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder for allegedly stabbing a burglar who had broken into his home.

The Metropolitan Police force says the homeowner called to report a burglary at his south London home early Wednesday. The man said he had found two men inside the house, and struggled with one, who was stabbed in the upper body.

Police say the suspected burglar was found collapsed in a road nearby and died later in a hospital.

The homeowner, who suffered bruising to his arms, is being questioned at a police station.

Police and politicians are under pressure to stem a growth in violent crime in London. There have been almost 50 murders so far this year, many of them stabbings involving young people.</s>A pensioner has been arrested on suspicion of murder after fatally wounding an intruder during a suspected burglary at his home.

Officers were called to reports of a burglary in progress at around 12.45am on Wednesday after two men entered a house in South Park Crescent in Hither Green, south-east London, the Metropolitan Police said.

One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the 78-year-old home-owner into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs, the force said.

Detectives believe a struggle ensued between “one of the males and the home-owner” and the 38-year-old intruder was stabbed in the upper body.

He was later found collapsed in nearby Further Green Road by paramedics from London Ambulance Service, who took him to a central London hospital where he died at 3.37am.

Police were unable to confirm whether the suspect had been stabbed with the screwdriver.

The pensioner, who suffered bruising to his arms, was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but has been further arrested on suspicion of murder, the Met said.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

The second suspect fled the scene and has yet to be found.

The dead suspect’s next of kin have been informed and a formal identification is due to take place. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. – PA</s>This is the first picture of a pensioner arrested on suspicion of murdering a burglar in his home.

The suspect, named locally as Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, is believed to have been accosted by two burglars at his home in London where he is thought to live with his disabled wife Maureen.

One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the 78-year-old home-owner into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs, police said.

Detectives believe a struggle ensued between "one of the males and the homeowner" and the 38-year-old intruder was stabbed in the upper body.

He was found "covered in blood" after he collapsed in a nearby road and paramedics from London Ambulance Service took him to hospital where he died at 3.37am.

Witness Gordon Williams, 44, heard "moaning and groaning" and then saw the bleeding suspected burglar collapsed on the ground with a stab wound to the chest.

He then said he saw another man in a white van trying unsuccessfully to get the wounded man into it before driving off.

Police and paramedics arrived at the scene moments later before a large cordon was put in place.

A witness described seeing the injured man stripped of his clothes as between six to eight paramedics attempted to save him.

Police were unable to confirm whether the suspected burglar had been stabbed with the screwdriver.

But police did confirm that he died after one single stab wound.

The pensioner, who suffered bruising to his arms, was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but has been further arrested on suspicion of murder, the Met said.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

Police were called to reports of the burglary while it was still in progress at around 12.45am on Wednesday after the two men entered a house in Hither Green, south-east London, the Metropolitan Police said.

After the fatal stabbing, at least five forensic officers entered the house just before 1pm.

A large purple forensic tent has been erected by the front door, and a wide cordon is being manned by around a dozen police officers.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said the homeowner had been retired for many years.

"He's been retired for 26 years. I did some building work on his house a while ago, but I haven't seen him for about three weeks." said the neighbour.

One man, who lives on the adjoining road, said there had been a recent spate of burglaries in the area.

"I was burgled in the last couple of months," said the retired man, who did not want to be named.

"I was renovating the house and they broke in and took a laptop. I know this has happened to others recently."

The arrested home-owner's neighbour Nick Myatt, who lives in a house within the police cordon, said: "I saw him a few times, he's a lovely old man and he cares for his wife who I think has dementia or is disabled.

"He's an old man - it's a shame really. I hope the law sees sense and let's him off. I don't think it's right.

"I don't know his name. I just hope he gets off.

"One of the police told me it's definitely him that's been arrested."

Mr Myatt and a friend who was with him at the scene both confirmed a picture of Richard Osborn-Brooks was the man who lives in the address being searched by police.

Other neighbours also said they knew him from photos.

A neighbour who lives several doors away, also within the cordon, described Mr Osborn-Brooks as a "nice guy".

The elderly man, who declined to give his name, said he knew Mr Osborn-Brooks lives at the house under investigation.

He said: "I have done some jobs for him.

"He's retired, but a nice guy, keeps himself to himself.

"Goes out shopping once a week and that's about it.

"He's been retired all the time I've been here - about 20 years. Nice as pie that's all I can tell you."

Another young man who lives in the street said Osborn-Brooks is a familiar face at summer street parties.

The man, who was in his 20s but didn't give his name, said: "We have street parties, people bring food with them and the whole neighbourhood comes out.

"We definitely recognise him from those, he lives on the street.

"It's normally a safe area. A burglary has happened here before but it's not very often."

Community leaders have since compared the killing to the case of Tony Martins, a farmer who shot a burglar in his home in 1999.</s>These are external links and will open in a new window

A 78-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a burglar who later died.

The homeowner discovered two intruders in Further Green Road, Hither Green, south-east London, at about 00:45 BST.

One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the man into his kitchen where a struggle ensued and he was stabbed, Scotland Yard said.

The pensioner, who suffered bruising to his arms, has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

Police said they were called to the property over reports of a burglary where they found a man with a stab wound to the upper body.

He was taken to hospital by paramedics but was pronounced dead at 03:40.

Police said the man's next of kin had been informed and a post-mortem examination would take place "in due course".</s>Police have arrested an elderly homeowner on suspicion of murder after a suspected armed burglar was stabbed to death during a break-in at a house in London.

According to the Evening Standard, the 78-year-old and his wife were asleep in bed at their south London home when the husband was awoken by noises and went to find two men in the middle of a suspected break-in.

Confronted by one of the suspected robbers, who was wielding a screwdriver, the pensioner was forced into his kitchen where police say a struggle took place in which the homeowner suffered bruising to his arms amongst injuries which are not life-threatening.

Scotland Yard said the 37-year-old intruder was rushed to hospital after sustaining a single stab wound to his chest, and that he died shortly after 3am.

Officers were summoned to reports of a burglary in process at what the Mirror reported is described as a “very quiet” road in Hither Green at around 12.45am.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “The 78-year-old resident had found two males inside his address.

“One suspect went upstairs while the homeowner was forced into the kitchen by the second suspect, armed with a screwdriver.”

The pensioner was held in custody in south London on Wednesday, having initially been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm while officers investigated the incident before he was later re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Scotland Yard confirmed that officers have informed the dead man’s next of kin, but he has not yet been officially identified. The second suspect — said to also have been armed — is still on the run, according to police, who said they are trying to track him down after he fled the crime scene before officers arrived.

London has seen a large rise in the number of burglaries over the past year alongside massive increases in other crimes such as knife and gun violence, rape and homicide as the capital under mayor Sadiq Khan recently overtook New York City as one of the most dangerous cities in the developed world.

While the number of arrests has been in sharp decline across England and Wales since 2008, even as crime has soared, focus on so-called hate crime has contributed towards a policing “crisis” in which just one burglary in ten results in a suspect being identified.</s>A pensioner has been arrested on suspicion of murder after fatally wounding an intruder during a suspected burglary at his home.

Officers were called to reports of a burglary in progress at around 12.45am on Wednesday after two men entered a house in South Park Crescent in Hither Green, south-east London, the Metropolitan Police said.

One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the 78-year-old home-owner into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs, the force said.

Detectives believe a struggle ensued between “one of the males and the home-owner” and the 38-year-old intruder was stabbed in the upper body.

He was later found collapsed in nearby Further Green Road by paramedics from London Ambulance Service, who took him to a central London hospital where he died at 3.37am.</s>One suspect armed with a screwdriver was said to have forced the elderly man into his kitchen. An accomplice then went upstairs.

After a struggle one of the burglars sustained a stab wound. He died in the early hours of the morning.

Reports suggest the man may have been stabbed with a screwdriver.

The pensioner was arrested on supiscion of grievous bodily harm and is in custody at a South London police station.

A pensioner has been arrested after stabbing to death a suspected armed burglar he confronted in his South London home early today.

The 78-year-old was asleep with his wife in their Hither Green home when he heard noises and woke to challenge two men in the middle of a suspected break-in.

The homeowner was confronted by one of the intruders who was armed with a screwdriver and forced to retreat into his kitchen.

Police said there was a struggle in the kitchen and the 37-year-old suspected burglar was stabbed in the chest. He was rushed to hospital but died at 3.37am.

The second suspect – who police say was also armed – escaped and is being sought by police after the incident in Hither Green, south east London.

The homeowner suffered bruising to his arms but his condition is not thought to be serious.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but re-arrested on suspicion of murder. He was in custody at a south London police today.

Scotland Yard said officers were called to reports of a “burglary in process” at around 12.45am.

A spokesman said: “The 78-year-old resident had found two males inside his address.

“One suspect went upstairs while the homeowner was forced into the kitchen by the second suspect, armed with a screwdriver.

“A struggle had ensued in the kitchen during which one of the males found inside the property sustained a stab wound to the upper body.”

Police said the dead man’s family have been informed, though the man has not yet been formally identified.

Detectives from the Met’s homicide and major crime command have launched an investigation.

Evelyn Henry, who lives on the road, said: “I saw flashing lights and lots of commotion in the early hours. It was around the houses opposite me. I’m not sure which of the neighbours were targeted.

“Police then came round to ask me what I’d seen or whether I had heard an altercation, but I told them I hadn’t.”

She added: “We have had a lot of police activity on the road before and problems with intruders.”

Mother-of-two Maribel Garcia, 42, was woken up at 1am as the police searched for the second suspect.

She said: “I’m not a good sleeper so the blue lights woke me up.

“I could see the police cars going round and round looking for someone.”</s>One suspect armed with a screwdriver was said to have forced the elderly man into his kitchen. An accomplice then went upstairs.

After a struggle one of the burglars sustained a stab wound. He died in the early hours of the morning.

Reports suggest the man may have been stabbed with a screwdriver.

The pensioner was arrested on supiscion of grievous bodily harm and is in custody at a South London police station.

A pensioner has been arrested after stabbing to death a suspected armed burglar he confronted in his South London home early today.

The 78-year-old was asleep with his wife in their Hither Green home when he heard noises and woke to challenge two men in the middle of a suspected break-in.
Police arrest a 78-year-old man in London on suspicion of murder after he allegedly killed a burglar during a fight in his home.