Man, 85, stabbed to death 'having a go' - ( Needed Tony Martin's shotgun )

The Telegraph - UK ^ | August 30, 2003 | Richard Savill

[UnklGene]

Man, 85, stabbed to death 'having a go' By Richard Savill (Filed: 30/08/2003)

An 85-year-old retired butcher who was stabbed to death after he got out of bed to confront burglars would not have thought twice about tackling the men and "having a go", his family told police.

Eric Hingston Eric Hingston was found by his wife Audrey, 81, with a stab wound to the neck in the bedroom of their flat in Plympton, Devon, at 3.50am yesterday.

Mrs Hingston, who had been sleeping in a separate room, was woken by noises and was confronted by the burglars when she went into the bedroom.

The two men fled and she found her husband lying on the floor.

Mr Hingston, a former Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, was taken to hospital but pronounced dead.

The couple shared the flat above a butcher's shop, which they ran for many years, and is now run by their son.

Police believe the intruders entered and escaped through the bedroom window, which was above a flat roof.

Mr Hingston, an asthmatic, had left the window open while he slept, police believe. A search for the murder weapon was continuing.

Det Chief Insp Tony Carney, who is leading the investigation, said: "It is a tragedy that this should happen to elderly people enjoying their retirement. It ranks among the worst crimes I have seen in 29 years' service."

[DCBryan1]

Hmmm, since guns are banned, maybe the UK should be looking at banning sharp instraments. Crime would plummet!

[annyokie]

I don't understand the term "having a go". "Splain, please, thanks.

Also if Grandad was asthmatic, why did he have the window open? Hubby has asthma, and night air slays him.

[marktwain]

Hmmm, since guns are banned, maybe the UK should be looking at banning sharp instraments. Crime would plummet!

They have already done so. It is illegal to carry anything with a point or an edge. They jailed (for 30 days)a fellow who had three knives in his car that he used for opening bundles on his job.

They have gone crazy over there, and their crime rate shows it. Other than murder, it is several times ours.

[OldEagle]

He fought them.

[annyokie]

Thanks for explaination. Brit slang goes over my pointy head most times! ;)

[Gritty]

It's a good thing guns are banned.

Somebody could have gotten killed!

[lawdude]

This is blatantly false. There is NO crime in GB since they banned firearms.

[wimpycat]

"Having a go", means he would have given it a try. He "had a go" at fighting off the burglars. He lost, but he "gave it a shot".

[Mr. Mojo]

would not have thought twice about tackling the men and "having a go", his family told police.

RIP, old chap. In your younger days I'm sure you would've taken both of these creeps out with little difficulty.

[Imal]

This article must be a hoax. Everyone knows there is no such thing as murder in England.

[RAY]

DAMN THEIVES!

[sushiman]

Why burgalarize the second floor apartment of an 85 year old ex-butcher ? Couldn't have that many valuables or much money lying around ? He was " a former Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator " . Maybe this was revenge ?

[mugsy]

RIP, old chap. In your younger days I'm sure you would've taken both of these creeps out with little difficulty.

Good post.

Not a bad way to go, really -- trying to kick the sh*t out of some bad guys. At least he didn't have to linger for months on a sick bed. God bless him and his widow.

[David Hunter]

Another poor victim of the British government's hopeless burglar friendly gun control laws. Rest in peace Eric Hingston.

[Shooter 2.5]

Dead on the altar of socialism.