A 63-year-old grandfather was savagely bludgeoned to death with a hammer in a brutal clash over unpaid money. John Moore, 39, has been jailed for the horrific killing of Francis Reilly in Essex.
Debt Dispute Explodes into Deadly Violence
Francis Reilly visited Moore's flat on Ingrave Road to collect a debt. Moore, who repeatedly borrowed to feed a drug habit, owed Reilly a sizeable sum.
When Reilly arrived on September 12 armed with a small bottle of ammonia, tensions boiled over. After Reilly tried to spray Moore with the chemical, a fight erupted.
Moore, over two decades younger and far stronger, grabbed a hammer and launched a vicious attack. He struck Reilly repeatedly, smashing him against a wall.
Despite trying to flee, Reilly was hunted down and bludgeoned outside the flat, witnessed by a shocked taxi driver.
Taxi Driver's Quick Thinking Brings Police in Time
The taxi driver flagged down two police officers as Moore battered Reilly mercilessly. Reilly begged for mercy but was left gasping, seriously injured.
When officers arrived, Reilly identified Moore as his attacker. Paramedics rushed to the scene but he tragically died at 4:25pm.
A post-mortem revealed devastating injuries: multiple hammer blows to the head, face, arms, and chest, broken ribs, and a collapsed lung caused from being slammed into the wall.
Moore Claims Self-Defence but Evidence Tells a Different Story
Moore admitted Reilly sprayed ammonia in his eyes and mouth but denied murder. Police found most of the ammonia spilled on the floor, and a burns expert said Moore's injuries were minor and did not impair his vision or breathing.
At Basildon Crown Court, the jury failed to reach a verdict on murder. Moore then pleaded guilty to manslaughter before a retrial and was sentenced to six years and two months on October 13.
Family and Police Demand Justice for Francis Reilly
"Frankie was a loving father, brother, grandfather and uncle. He was greatly loved and will be sadly missed. We ask for privacy to grieve as a family." – Reilly Family
"Moore's brutal assault went far beyond any reasonable self-defence. He had full control and chose to unleash a vicious attack. Nobody deserves to die like this. It was right he faced justice." – Detective Inspector Lisa Hurrell
