Popular ‘Flower Man of Islington’ was ‘stabbed to death by man, 23, who blamed him for his mum’s suicide’
A POPULAR flower seller was stabbed to death by his girlfriend’s son who blamed him for his mum’s suicide, a court heard.
James Peppiatt, 23, allegedly murdered Tony Eastlake who was known as the “Flower Man of Islington”.
The 55-year-old had been in a relationship with Peppiatt’s mum Alicia Callaghan after splitting with his wife in 2018, jurors heard.
The Old Bailey was told she tragically took her own life on April 1, 2021.
Julian Evans KC, prosecuting, said: “Her suicide clearly had a great impact upon James Peppiatt and Tony Eastlake, both of whom were greatly upset and affected by her death.
“According to a friend of Tony Eastlake, Alisha’s death caused something of a rift in the relationship between Tony Eastlake and James Peppiatt.
“Tony Eastlake told his friend that James Peppiatt blamed him for his mother’s death.”
On May 29, 2021, Tony called Peppiatt for two minutes while packing up his flower stall at around 5pm.
He then made his way along Essex Road where he met the defendant and the pair carried on walking together.
The court was told Tony was later heard saying something along the lines of: “Don’t p**s me off, I’ve took a lot, I’ve kept quiet”.
Peppiatt then “moved at speed” towards the flower seller, who had worked on the same stall since he was 14, and a fight broke out, it was said.
This lasted for around 30 to 40 seconds, with both men injured in the melee.
As Tony attempted to walk away, Peppiatt asked “where are you going?” before continuing to follow him, jurors heard.
The court was told witness David Johnston saw the two men but believed they were “messing around with each other”.
Peppiatt then said something like “don’t f***ing talk to me like that”, with Mr Johnston believing he then landed a punch on Tony’s back.
But Mr Evans said: “It is the prosecution’s case that as James Peppiatt approached Tony Eastlake from behind on that street, he, James Peppiatt was holding a knife and rather than punching Tony Eastlake in the back, James Peppiatt stabbed him once in the back from behind with a knife and it caused a wound which proved fatal.”
Jurors heard Peppiatt fled the scene as stricken Tony staggered into a nearby car park and collapsed.
Emergency crews were called but the flower seller couldn’t be saved after suffering a 6.5cm deep wound that severed his thoracic aorta, the main blood vessel in the body.
The alleged killer handed himself into police three days later and answered “no comment” in his interview, it was said.
Peppiatt, of Islington, denies murder.
The trial continues.