Man Pleads Guilty to Brutal GBH After Friend Found Dead in London Flat
Gary Curran, 53, a drifter with no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 3 March. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) under section 20. Curran faces sentencing on Monday, 6 March.
Victim Found Dead Days After Alleged Assault
Curran was arrested after 50-year-old Stephen Wallis was discovered dead at his flat in Barclay Close, SW6, on 15 February 2022.
Days earlier, on 10 February, Stephen confided in a medical professional during a home visit that a friend – later identified as Curran – had assaulted him following a drugs-fuelled argument on the night of 9 February. Stephen sought hospital treatment on 11 February but refused to name his attacker.
Police Attempted Contact Before Tragic Discovery
- Police tried to reach Stephen but failed.
- He was last seen entering his flat on 13 February.
- On 14 and 15 February, medical staff’s attempts to contact him failed, prompting police to force entry.
- Stephen was found deceased inside his home on 15 February.
Assault Charge Downgraded After Investigation
Initially charged with murder due to the assault and presence of blood at the scene, Curran’s charge was later reduced to GBH. Pathology and further investigations found no direct connection between the assault and Stephen’s death.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin, Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Gary Curran carried out a violent assault that caused serious harm to a vulnerable man in his own home.
“While no link between the assault and Stephen’s death could be scientifically established, it is clear from speaking to those who came into contact with him in the days between the attack and his death that he was in pain and traumatised by the incident.”
