A man who stabbed a rough sleeper before and hitting him on the head with a concrete slab has been sentenced for the killing.

Jermaine Myers, 37, of Woodhouse Road, Finchley, was handed a hospital order at the Old Bailey today (March 13) after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Nicholas Sutin by diminished responsibility.

This means he will go to hospital rather than prison.

Mr Sutin was by a bench near the Tally Ho pub, in High Road North Finchley, when he was approached by Myers shortly after 4am on May 27, 2022.

Myers was armed with a knife and stabbed Mr Sutin twice before picking up a concrete slab and striking him across the head, causing catastrophic injuries.

When police arrived on the scene Mr Sutin was found suffering stab and severe head injuries. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, he died at the scene of the attack.

During the police investigation, a forensic trace on the concrete slab quickly identified Myers as the suspect. He was arrested the following day at his address in nearby Woodhouse Road.

CCTV footage was later obtained which showed the whole incident, including Myers coming to and from the scene.

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Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “The level of violence inflicted on Nicholas Sutin was significant and sustained, leaving him no chance of survival.

“From what we know, Myers was not known to Nicholas and there was nothing in Nicholas’ behaviour that could suggest he in any way provoked the attack.

“The court has accepted Myers’ plea and the admission that his actions ended Nicholas’ life brings the judicial process to a close. I can only hope this closure can allow Nicholas’ family to move on from this horrific chapter.”