A violent career criminal has been found guilty of murdering an elderly brother and sister during a bungled burglary at their east London home in 1993. Danville Neil, 65, attacked Second World War veteran William Bryan, 71, and widow Anne Castle, 74, at their flat in Bethnal Green on 23 August 1993.
The pensioners were beaten and restrained as their home was ransacked. Neil pulled two wedding rings and two diamond rings from Mrs Castle's fingers but failed to find over £4,000 in cash hidden around the flat. Mrs Castle suffered a heart attack and Mr Bryan went into cardiac arrest after being beaten and smothered.
The murders went unsolved for nearly 30 years until Neil's DNA was found on the knot of a strap used to tie Mr Bryan's hands. Neil had a string of convictions for 15 burglaries between 1973 and 1998, including two violent home invasions in 1984 where occupants were assaulted.
During the trial at the Old Bailey, Neil claimed he had sold Mr Bryan binoculars at a car boot sale and the strap was used to bind him, but the jury rejected this explanation. He was found guilty of Mr Bryan's murder and Mrs Castle's manslaughter.
There were cheers in the public gallery as the verdicts were delivered. Neil was remanded into custody and will be sentenced on 25 November.
