Man given hospital order following fatal attack in Hounslow

A man has been sentenced admitting to the manslaughter of 45-year-old James Donnelly after subjecting him to a violent and sustained attack at his home in Hayes.

Leo Pryce – 22 (12.04.01) of Blair Close, Hayes was sentenced to a Hospital Order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act, with further restrictions under section 41, following a hearing at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 29 February. The court had accepted a plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility at an earlier hearing on 12 January. Pryce also pleaded guilty to having an article with a blade or point on 16 July 2023 and two counts of assault on an emergency services worker.

Pryce had befriended James in the weeks leading up to the attack. However, Pryce was suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia and attacked James in his home in Station Road.

Police were called there by London Ambulance Service on the morning of 15 July 2023 after London Ambulance Service had found James’ body. He had been the victim of a sustained assault and had suffered stab injuries. A knife was recovered at the scene; forensic testing confirmed this was the murder weapon.

Detectives quickly identified Pryce as the suspect following accounts provided to police by witnesses at the scene, and he was arrested the following day.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Webb from the Met’s Homicide Team led the investigation and said:

“I would like to thank the witnesses that provided accounts to police as this allowed us to establish what had taken place and to arrest Pryce at the earliest opportunity, safeguarding the public. This highlights the importance of our relationship with our communities.

"I cannot begin to imagine the pain and distress James Donnelly’s family endured following this horrific incident and I hope that Leo Pryce’s conviction will bring them some solace.”