Killer bludgeoned grandfather, 80, to death three days before he was due to lay his wife to rest after 46 years of marriage

• Sable Thomas, 43, admitted the manslaughter of Anthony Rooks on May 7, 2020
• He admitted the killing by reason of diminished responsibility at his trial
• He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of eight years 
• Thomas told police he had mental health issues but stopped his medication

A man who bludgeoned his elderly neighbour to death three days before his victim was due to bury his wife has been sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Sable Thomas, 43, of Tufnell Park, London admitted the manslaughter of Anthony Rooks, 80, at his home in Dalmeny Road, Tufnell Park by reason of diminished responsibility. 

Wood Green Crown Court heard Thomas attacked his friend and neighbour on May 4, 2020, three days before Mr Rooks was due to attend the funeral of his wife of 46 years. 

Mr Rooks was battered to death with a brandy bottle. His wife passed away on April 14, 2020 and her funeral was due to take place on May 7, three days after he himself was brutally killed.

Thomas was told he must serve a minimum of eight years before he is able to apply for parole.  

Anthony Rooks, pictured, was brutally killed by his friend and neighbour Sable Thomas in Tufnell Park, north London on May 4, 2020

Mr Rooks, 80, had visited the flat of his 42-year-old friend and neighbour Sable Thomas on Dalmeny Road, Tufnell Park on the afternoon he was killed

The post-mortem revealed Mr Rooks suffered multiple blunt force trauma to the head and part of his ear was destroyed

The post-mortem revealed Mr Rooks suffered multiple blunt force trauma to the head and part of his ear was destroyed. 

In a victim impact statement from Mr Rooks’ granddaughter, his family said: ‘Little did we know that three days before our nan’s funeral, this horrific tragedy would rock our world and change our lives forever. Our biggest question is why anyone would want to hurt such a loving funny giving and caring old man, especially to that extent?

‘As a result of grandad’s death, we are living in a constant nightmare thinking about the house in which we shared so much happy memories. Grandad’s home was our safe place to go to. There is a feeling that our entire childhood memories and lives have been ruined.

‘We see things like this in the movies and have never envisage it could happen to us. We have experienced the harsh reality of evil that exists and that anybody, even a friend, is capable of absolutely anything.

‘He had so much more to give in his life. His plans to go back to his native homeland of Trinidad was not realised. We did not get to say goodbye, it feels like we are already serving a life sentence as there is nothing that will bring him back or ease the pain of his loss. To say our hearts have been broken would be an understatement. There will always be a hole in our hearts, but we are hoping for some closure so we can try to live somewhat of a normal life.’ 

On the night of the killing, Mr Rooks’ daughter was sleeping in the living room of their first floor flat while her father and Thomas were in his flat below. 

After hearing banging and shouting, Mr Rook’s daughter went downstairs to find her father mortally wounded outside the front door. 

Wood Green Crown Court heard Mr Rooks’ daughter found her father lying at the front door of his Tufnell Park flat following the brutal assault

Thomas refused to answer what happened to Mr Rooks and was arrested by police on suspicion of murder. 

The court heard Thomas was laughing manically when officers arrived, where they discovered he had attempted to clean up the crime scene with a bucket and mop. 

While in custody, Thomas asked police ‘is this how you normally treat murderers?’ and ‘can I ask who I murdered’. 

Thomas admitted he had mental health issues but had stopped taking his medication as it ‘did not agree’ with him.  

Detective Sergeant Brian Jones, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: ‘This is an absolutely heart-breaking case where a much-loved grandad was killed in the most brutal way by his friend and neighbour who was suffering from a mental health issue.

‘Anthony being killed in such a traumatic way was absolutely devastating for his family, who were already grieving for Anthony’s wife – their mother and grandmother. They suddenly found themselves having to plan for not one, but two funerals, during the midst of a pandemic. Thomas also robbed Anthony of his chance to say a proper goodbye to his much-loved wife of 46 years.

‘I would like to commend Anthony’s family for the bravery and dignity they have shown throughout the investigation and court process. I do hope that Thomas’ sentencing gives them the closure that they want and deserve.’ 

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