Man Found Guilty of Killing Brixton Granny in Shocking Street Robbery
Brutal Attack Outside Home Turns Deadly
Junior Young, 39, with no fixed address, was today convicted of manslaughter and robbery following the tragic death of 86-year-old Hilda Lockert. The pensioner was violently robbed outside her Brixton home in April 2001.
On the evening of 30 April 2001, Hilda was grabbing her shopping bags at Langport House, Overton Road, when two men dragged her down by her coat and bag. She fell hard, fracturing her knee. The attackers rifled through her pockets and stole her shopping bag, bus pass, and a wallet holding just £15.
Injuries Lead to Fatal Blood Clot
Hilda was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery. But the injuries proved fatal. On her 86th birthday, 15 May 2001, she died after developing a blood clot linked directly to her knee fracture. Medical experts confirmed a “clear medical and real causal relationship” between the fall and her death.
Justice Served After Years of Silence
Young was arrested weeks later and denied involvement. Initial forensic tests found weak DNA evidence, with no CCTV or witnesses to confirm the attack. But a 2015 DNA review using cutting-edge technology dramatically strengthened the case, proving Young’s presence with a billion-fold likelihood.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard said: “Young targeted Hilda because she was vulnerable and alone. He had no regard for the harm he caused. Hilda was a fiercely independent woman, and her death devastated her family and community.”
Met Police Praise Scientific Advances, Prepare for Sentencing
Her family honoured Hilda by naming a street after her in Brixton. The Met have never given up on justice. DCI Leonard added: “Thanks to science, Young now faces a long custodial sentence. Let this be a warning: evading justice is no escape.”
Young will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Monday, 20 December.
