London trial starts for man accused of killing pensioner

In Chicago, a trial began Monday for Alvin Thomas, who is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 9, 2020 Chinatown parking-lot shooting that killed Huayi Bian, 36, and Weizhing Xiong, 38, during an attempted robbery; police say Thomas demanded money at gunpoint, Xiong’s wife complied, the two men resisted and were shot, and Thomas was apprehended a few blocks away. In London’s Old Bailey, the trial opened for 58-year-old Peter Augustine, accused of murdering and robbing 87-year-old John Mackey after an alleged assault near Goodchild Road/Manor House on May 6 that left Mackey with fatal head injuries; he died in hospital two days later. Augustine has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery and will not raise a psychiatric defence. His trial is expected to last about two weeks. Mackey, originally from Callan, Co. Kilkenny, was a well-known member of the north London Irish community and a devoted Arsenal fan, and was mourned by family.