Nathan Otitodilichukwu, a 17-year-old Nigerian, has been sentenced to six years in prison in the UK for manslaughter after a 76-year-old pensioner died due to a firework attack at his home in east London.
Otitodilichukwu and an unnamed teenage accomplice pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey in connection with the death of Robert Price, a retired man whose residence in Dagenham was targeted on July 27, 2024.
According to the UK Metropolitan Police, the teenagers first approached Price’s home with a firecracker but fled when confronted.
They later returned, and CCTV footage showed Otitodilichukwu climbing onto a gas meter to throw a lit firework through a window.
“There was a loud bang, followed by the laughter of the defendants as they ran from the scene,” the police said in a statement.
Emergency responders arrived soon after but found Price had died at the scene.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that smoke inhalation and burns caused his death.
Detectives apprehended Otitodilichukwu within 48 hours, recovering clothing matching the surveillance footage.
This arrest led to the capture of the second teenager, who was sentenced to two years and eight months.
Police spokesperson Clarke commented on the case, saying, “This is a deeply tragic case, which saw a man lose his life in his own home after a completely mindless and reckless act had devastating consequences. The young defendants will now have to face the consequences of their actions by spending time in prison.”
Clarke added he hoped the sentencing would provide some comfort to Robert Price’s family, noting that the guilty pleas spared them the difficulty of a full trial.
“I hope Robert’s family can take some solace in this outcome, and I am pleased the defendants spared them the ordeal of a trial,” Clarke stated.
