Islington Tribune - by DAVID ST GEORGE Published: 17 August 2007
Four to face Old Bailey trial over violent death of ‘Joe the Tinker’
THE violent death of a local man known as ‘Joe the Tinker’ is to be investigated by an Old Bailey jury next year.
Four suspects accused of the murder of 39-year-old Peter Armstrong denied the charge when they appeared at the court before Judge Richard Hone QC.
Labourer Mr Armstrong was found dying on a doorstep at Besant Court, Newington Green Road, on September 12 last year. He had suffered stab wounds.
Described as of no fixed address, Mr Armstrong had been living with a woman friend on the Mildmay Estate.
He was fatally attacked in a stairwell and staggered 100 yards with blood pouring from his wounds before collapsing outside the home of a pensioner.
He was stabbed four times. The fatal wound penetrated his liver.
His alleged assailants, brothers Lyndell Christie, 25, and Donovam Christie, 24, Curtis-Lee Henry-Seabourne, 21, all from Hathersage Court, Newington Green, and Jamal Dyce, 18, of Effingham Road, Croydon, a cousin of the brothers, pleaded not guilty to the murder count.
Judge Hone fixed their trial – expected to last between six and eight weeks – to begin on March 3 next year.
The court heard that many prosecution witnesses are juveniles.