Man who stabbed the ‘Flower Man of Islington’ to death because he blamed him for his mother’s suicide is jailed for at least 20 years
- Tony Eastlake, 55, died from a single stab wound to the chest near his flower stall
- James Peppiatt, 23, had blamed the flower seller for his mother’s death
A man who stabbed the ‘Flower Man of Islington’ to death because he blamed him for his mother’s suicide has been jailed today for at least 20 years.
James Peppiatt stabbed popular Tony Eastlake, 55, stabbed in the back in May 2021 near his stall in Essex Road, Islington, north London.
Mr Eastlake died on the roadside despite officers and paramedics’ attempts to save his life.
A post-mortem examination found Mr Eastlake died from a single stab wound to the chest that had pierced the aorta.
The popular flower man had been dating Peppiatt’s mother, Alisha Callaghan. She took her own life in April 2021 – which caused a rift between the pair.
Tony Eastlake, 55, died of a single stab wound to his chest near his flower stall in Islington. He had been affectionately known as the ‘Flower Man of Islington’ and worked at the same stall for 41 years
James Peppiatt, 23, has been jailed for at least 20 years in prison. Mr Eastlake had been dating Peppiatt’s mother, Alice Callaghan. She took her own life in 2021
Peppiatt, 23, who was found guilty of murder after a trial at the Old Bailey, had no ‘lawful or legitimate reason’ for possessing the knife, Judge Richard Marks KC said while sentencing him today.
The judge, speaking about Mr Eastlake, said: ‘He had a flower stall in Islington where he had worked for the whole of his life, from a very young age.
‘He was extremely well known in the area and was a hugely popular local figure.
‘He was known as the flower man of Islington. I am told that hundreds attended his funeral and a later vigil.
‘I heard this afternoon in profoundly moving terms from his daughter and his sister.
‘They were present throughout the trial and remain utterly broken-hearted by his needless and senseless death.’
The victim’s daughter Paige Eastlake told the court her father’s death had broken her family.
She went on: ‘We all get one life and I would never have thought that I could end up here, in a courtroom.
‘My best friend, my dad, my whole world is now gone.’
Mr Eastlake’s daughter Paige Eastlake holds a red balloon and hugs his partner Lisa Maggs at a vigil at his stall in May 2021
Ms Eastlake said her ;my best friend, my dad, my whole world is now gone’. ‘A part of us died that day and nothing will ever help heal the hole that is left in our hearts,’ she said
A vigil by his stall days after his murder was attended by a crowd of family, friends, customers, passers-by and neighbours, where a rapture of applause could be heard
Lit candles near Mr Eastlake’s stall were placed in his memory following his death. At the vigil, his friend Jody Graber told wellwishers: ‘This has been a massive trauma for our community. It should not have happened
Teresa McLaren, Mr Eastlake’s sister, told the court that a part of her was ‘missing’ but had drawn strength from learning how much her brother meant to the Islington community.
READ MORE: Knifeman who stabbed his late mother’s boyfriend ‘The Flower Man of Islington’ after blaming him for his mum’s tragic suicide in family row is convicted of murder
On May 29 2021, Mr Eastlake had been working on his flower stall and after packing up at around 5.15pm, met Peppiatt in the street where a fight broke out between them.
Mr Eastlake walked away but Peppiatt followed him with a knife and stabbed him in the back, in what the Metropolitan Police called an act of ‘revenge’.
The judge told Peppiatt: ‘Albeit you had a knife on you, the stabbing was not premeditated.
‘This is amply borne out by the fact that you didn’t use it in the first fight, but only in the second confrontation, by which time your blood was well and truly up.’
Dean George KC, defending, said the killing stemmed from ‘loss and grief on both sides’.
He went on: ‘This is a young man of good character, he was from a young age a boy bringing up his mum.’
Mr Eastlake’s daughter added in a statement following the sentencing: ‘There are no words that could ever explain the impact this tragedy has had, and continues to have on me and my family.
Mr Eastlake had been working on the same flower stall for 41 years since the age of 14 ‘through rain and shine’ and was known for his ‘smiling, friendly face’
Judge Richard Marks KC said during a sentencing hearing that Mr Eastlake ‘was extremely well known in the area and was a hugely popular local figure’
Ms Eastlake at the vigil for her father as people hold blue balloons. She described him as ‘kind, funny, generous, and had the funniest laugh’
Floral tributes in memory of Mr Eastlake near his stall. A judge told Peppiatt the fatal stabbing was ‘amply borne out by the fact that you didn’t use it in the first fight, but only in the second confrontation, by which time your blood was well and truly up’
‘My Dad, Tony, was killed on the 29th May, 2021 we are now in 2023. It has taken a long time to get here, a very long time. I am so glad that he finally got the justice he deserves.
READ MORE: Applause breaks out at vigil held for ‘flower man of Islington’, 55, who was stabbed to death
‘What we have been through as a family is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. A part of us died that day and nothing will ever help heal the hole that is left in our hearts.
‘My Dad was kind, funny, generous, and had the funniest laugh. To me he was just perfect, he was one of a kind. Life will never be the same without him.
‘He will never walk me down the aisle, he will never get to see my children. We will never do anything together again. All this was taken from me in the most cruel, senseless, uncalled for way, and that is what we struggle with.
‘I’d like to thank the Islington community, for all of the support that they have shown me and my family, for the floral tributes, the hundreds of people at his funeral and the constant words of support.
‘I couldn’t be prouder of my Dad for the lasting legacy he left as the ‘Flower Man of Essex Road.’
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan said Mr Eastlake’s family had been ‘devastated by the senseless crime’.
‘We may never know why Peppiatt placed the blame for his mother’s death at the feet of Mr Eastlake, but violence can never be an acceptable answer,; he said.
‘Peppiatt’s extreme response to his perceived grievance was to result in Mr Eastlake losing his life and Peppiatt has rightfully been held responsible for his terrible actions.’
Mr Eastlake had been working on the same flower stall for 41 years since the age of 14 ‘through rain and shine’ and was known for his ‘smiling, friendly face’.
A vigil by his stall days after his murder was attended by a crowd of family, friends, customers, passers-by and neighbours, where a rapture of applause could be heard.
His friend Jody Graber told wellwishers at the time: ‘This has been a massive trauma for our community. It should not have happened.
‘This is for Tony Eastlake – the loveliest man who could sell you a bunch of flowers.’
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