Blind man in 'lawful' killing

A blind pensioner who stabbed an intruder to death was protecting his wife, a coroner has ruled.

Thomas O'Connor, 62, of Brinnington, Stockport, Greater Manchester, attacked 23-year-old Lee Kelso with a six-inch blade on 14 June last year.

Mr O'Connor told police he had stabbed Mr Kelso in self-defence after he had started kicking down his front door.

At Stockport Magistrates Court, Coroner John Pollard recorded a verdict of lawful killing.

Mr Kelso was attacked at about 0100 GMT, shortly after he had left The Farmers Arms pub in Middlesex Road, Brinnington.

Elderly and in poor health

Mr O'Connor, who is blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other, said he and his wife were woken up by Mr Kelso.

He then went downstairs armed with a knife that he kept in the dresser in his lounge.

The coroner said Mr O'Connor was an elderly man in poor health, and Mr Kelso was big, fit and young.

"I have no doubt that Mr O'Connor acted in reasonable boundaries in protecting himself and his wife," Mr Pollard said.

Police arrested Mr O'Connor in connection with the incident but he was not charged.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Foster told the coroner on Thursday that he had sought legal advice and it appeared "impossible for the Crown to disprove self-defence."