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. 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. “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. 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 suspected burglar had been stabbed with the screwdriver. “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. The pensioner was arrested on supiscion of grievous bodily harm and is in custody at a South London police station.
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.