Killer gouged out pensioner’s eye and beat him to death with his own walking stick

Bernard Fowler’s family described him as a kind and caring man with a raw sense of humour (Picture: BTP/PA)

A killer who gouged out an 87-year-old pensioner’s eye and beat him to death with his own walking stick has been locked up indefinitely.

Sekai Miles, 23, hit Bernard Fowler over the head with the cane 19 times after targeting him as he walked to Harold Wood station in east London to pick up free newspapers early last February 27.

He also stamped on the elderly man’s head eight times before standing over his body in a ‘triumphant stance’, the Old Bailey heard.

Miles, of Brent Cross, Hendon, north-west London, denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility and assaulting a police officer.

The court was he had paranoid schizophrenia and there was evidence he had taken the synthetic cannabis drug known as spice in the past.

Miles had stopped taking medication after declaring that he had been ‘saved by god’.

The court heard he had travelled from Liverpool Street to Harold Wood Station and when asked to leave, told staff: ‘Touch me and I will kill you.’

He then tried to book a taxi to Brent Cross but when a cab driver arrived at the station to pick him up, they missed each other.

Sekai Miles gouged out an 87-year-old pensioner’s eye and beat him to death with his own walking stick (Picture: BTP/PA)

Prosecutor Benjamin Aina KC said: ‘CCTV shows Mr Fowler at about 3.51am walking towards the station. He arrived at 3.58am. The defendant approached him, and the attack began at about 4.03am.

‘During the attack, the defendant gouges his eyes. He falls to the floor. The defendant then attacks him as he is lying helpless on the ground.

‘He kicks Mr Fowler in the head, picks up his walking stick and then starts to hit him to the head with force. Mr Fowler is hit to the head 19 times.

‘The defendant then stamps on Mr Fowler’s head eight times. The attack is truly shocking and appalling.’

Miles walked away but returned and stood over him in a ‘triumphant stance’, Mr Aina said.

When police arrived, Miles ran off holding the bloody stick in one hand and his trainers in the other, and was arrested after a struggle.

A search of his rucksack revealed a large number of religious leaflets that stated: ‘Are you saved? If you died today: Heaven or Hell?’

There was also a Bible with text highlighted with the green highlighter pen.

One highlighted passage referred to sight being lost and restored, Mr Aina said: ‘This is particularly pertinent as the defendant gouged out Mr Fowler’s eye during the attack and later threatened to “pluck out” a police officer’s eye whilst in custody.’

In victim impact statements, Mr Fowler was described by his family as a kind and caring man with a raw sense of humour.

Bernard Fowler was subjected to a ‘brutal’ random attack outside Harold Wood station in east London early on February 27 last year (Picture: BTP/PA)

His son Darrin Fowler said: ‘He was a loving, thoughtful, supportive father and grandfather.

‘My father had a huge heart and showed care and compassion for others.’

He added: ‘It does not feel real and I cannot process my father is gone. My father was my wingman and confidante.

‘I feel angry at the way my father was so brutally taken.’

Defending Miles, Brenda Campbell KC, said Mr Fowler was an entirely innocent victim and the defendant was ‘profoundly sorry’ for his actions.

He had a background of abuse and trauma in his home life, had problems with his mental health from the age of 10 and reported hearing voices at the age of 12.

After a gap of nearly a decade, he was admitted to hospital in January 2023 after a member of the public became concerned for his welfare.

Later, his mother had raised concern that he was having ‘delusions about religion’ but that he had stopped smoking cannabis, Ms Campbell said.

The barrister suggested there were ‘missed opportunities’ for medical professionals to spot the warning signs that Miles was unwell.

The court was also told that Miles was unwell when he turned up unannounced at his ex-girlfriend’s house in Luton the day before the attack on Mr Fowler.

She refused to let him in as he looked like he had not been taking care of himself and responded with a ‘blank stare’ when asked about his ‘head space’, the court was told.

Judge Judy Khan KC sentenced Miles to a hospital order with restrictions after hearing he needed ongoing treatment at Broadmoor secure psychiatric hospital.

The judge said she would outline her reason for the decision later.

The court was told Miles was likely to spend years in hospital before he is well enough to be released back into the community.

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