Two Teens Plead Guilty to Greenford Pensioner Killing

Robbed her to buy fast food and charge their mobiles

Two 15-year-old boys have pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of partially-sighted Paula Castle who died after being mugged in Greenford.

The 85-year-old , was robbed in an alleyway off Oldfield Lane South on 19 November. She died the next day.

They pair had been due to go on trial for murder but the prosecution accepted their manslaughter plea.

The teenagers, cannot be named for legal reasons, also admitted robbing Mrs Castle of her handbag - they used the money and bank card in her bag to buy fast food and to charge their mobile phones.

They also admitted the robbery of a second woman, 75-year-old Rose Mohamed, the day after the fatal attack.

Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said 

"This is a grave case. These two defendants accosted an 85-year-old woman, Paula Castle, in an alleyway in Greenford in order to rob her of what transpired to be a small amount of money and a bank card which was used in order to buy some fast food and to charge mobile phones," he said.

Mr Edis added: "In reality this is a case, it would appear, whereby these two defendants have jointly used force against an 85-year-old woman who was entirely defenceless placing her further at risk of serious injury.

"But rather than intending to cause really serious injury, they simply did not care what happened to her, and in these circumstances we have taken the view to accept the pleas."

The youths, will appear at the Old Bailey on 9 May for sentencing.

10th April 2013