An 87-year-old man found strangled to death at a house in Lewisham has been named by police as Brian Hunt, with a 47-year-old man charged with his murder.
Metropolitan Police officers and paramedics were called to an address in Wellmeadow Road, Lewisham, at approximately 1am on Sunday, August 24, following reports of a death at the property. Mr Hunt was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Monday revealed the pensioner had died from compression of the neck, confirming the case as a homicide. Vasile Iosebica, 47, of Wellmeadow Road, was arrested on suspicion of murder and subsequently charged on Tuesday, August 26.
The suspect appeared at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he was expected to be remanded in custody ahead of a future appearance at the Old Bailey. Police confirmed that Mr Hunt and Iosebica were known to each other, though the exact nature of their relationship has not been disclosed.
Mr Hunt’s next-of-kin have been informed of his death and are being supported by specially-trained Metropolitan Police officers. The force’s Specialist Crime Command is leading the investigation but stated they are not appealing for information at this stage.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “Met detectives have launched a murder investigation following the death of an 87-year-old man in Lewisham. Brian Hunt, aged 87, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.”
The killing has shocked residents in the Hither Green area of Lewisham, where Mr Hunt lived. The case adds to London’s homicide statistics for 2025, with the capital recording 104 police-recorded homicides in the 2024/25 reporting year according to the Office for National Statistics.
According to the murder tracking website Murdermap, Mr Hunt is among several elderly victims of homicide in London this year. The site noted that the average age of homicide victims appears higher than usual in 2025, with only one victim out of 12 homicides recorded by March falling into the 18-30 age category that typically sees the highest victimisation rates.
The case highlights concerning trends in violence against elderly people. While the majority of homicide victims in England and Wales are younger males, attacks on elderly victims often occur in domestic settings and involve people known to them. The Home Office Homicide Index shows that in recent years, older victims are more likely to be killed in their own homes than younger victims.
London continues to have the highest homicide rate among UK regions, with 13.1 homicides per million population recorded in 2023/24. However, the Metropolitan Police area actually reports a lower homicide rate than some other major urban police forces, including the West Midlands Police.
The method of killing in this case – strangulation or compression of the neck – is less common than knife attacks, which account for approximately 46 per cent of all homicides in England and Wales. Strangulation cases often involve domestic relationships and can be particularly difficult to investigate due to the lack of weapons involved.
Iosebica’s appearance at Bromley Magistrates’ Court was expected to be brief, with magistrates confirming his identity and address before sending the case to the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey, where serious murder cases are tried. Murder carries a mandatory life sentence upon conviction in England and Wales.
The Wellmeadow Road area where the killing occurred is a residential street in Hither Green, a suburban district in the London Borough of Lewisham. The area is generally considered quiet and residential, making the violent death particularly shocking for local residents.
This case comes as London authorities continue efforts to tackle violent crime across the capital. While overall homicide numbers have decreased from their peak in 2003, recent years have seen fluctuations, with particular concerns about knife crime and violence affecting young people.
The investigation into Mr Hunt’s death continues under the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Command, formerly known as the Homicide and Major Crime Command. This unit handles all murder investigations in London and has extensive experience in complex cases involving elderly victims.
For Mr Hunt’s family and friends, the violent nature of his death at 87 years old represents a devastating loss. Support services are available through Victim Support and other organisations for those affected by homicide, offering practical and emotional assistance during the investigation and legal proceedings.
As the case progresses through the criminal justice system, further details may emerge about the circumstances leading to Mr Hunt’s death. For now, the focus remains on supporting his family and ensuring a thorough investigation leads to justice for the elderly victim.
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