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A killer who stabbed 'The Flower Man of Islington' to death after he blamed him for his mother's suicide is facing a life sentence.
James Peppiatt, 23, murdered 55-year-old Tony Eastlake, who had a pitch in Essex Road, Islington, and was well known and liked by customers across north London.
Mr Eastlake was stabbed in the lower back shortly after finishing work on May 29 2021 and collapsed and died in the street.
The florist, who separated from his wife in 2018, had started a relationship with Peppiatt's mother, Alicia Callaghan, that same year.
But Ms Callaghan tragically took her own life on April 1, 2021, and Peppiatt blamed Mr Eastlake as he had not told him about another suicide attempt two weeks before, the Old Bailey heard.
A killer who stabbed 'The Flower Man of Islington' Tony Eastlake (pictured) to death after he blamed him for his mother's suicide is facing a life sentence
James Peppiatt (pictured in 2014), 23, murdered 55-year-old Mr Eastlake, who had a pitch in Essex Road, Islington, and was well known and liked by customers across north London
Peppiatt denied murder, claiming he killed Mr Eastlake in self-defence after he pulled a knife on him. However, he was convicted today after 12 hours and 58 minutes of jury deliberation.
Wearing a white shirt and waistcoat, Peppiatt looked up to a woman sobbing in the public gallery after the verdict was delivered and hung his head in shame.
Prosecutor Julian Evans, KC, earlier told the jury that according to a friend of Mr Eastlake's, Ms Callaghan's death had caused a rift between him and Peppiatt.
Mr Eastlake called Peppiatt on May 29 for around two minutes after packing up his stall.
He then made his way along Essex Road heading in the direction of Elmore Street where he met Peppiatt and the pair began walking together.
Mr Evans told the court: 'The two men were standing together on Ecclesbourne Road, and at one point Tony Eastlake, in the course of the conversation between the two men, said something along the lines of "don't p*** me off, I've took a lot, I've kept quiet".
Tributes at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by the Islington Community Group
Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige Eastlake (centre left) at a vigil close to his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by the Islington Community Group on Facebook
'James Peppiatt reacted to these words and with an outstretched arm he moved at speed towards Tony Eastlake and, although exactly what the happened between the two men at that point can't be seen entirely on the CCTV it is clear the two of them started to have a fight.'
Jurors heard the fight between the pair lasted for between 30 to 40 seconds, and both men seemed to suffer injuries.
Mr Eastlake tried to walk away as Peppiatt asked him 'where are you going?', then followed Mr Eastlake as he turned down Haliford Road.
Eye witness David Johnston was leaving his home when he saw the two men in the middle of the street.
Mr Evans said Mr Johnston had initially thought the two men were messing around with each other, and saw Mr Eastlake turn around and look towards Peppiatt with a half-smile.
The prosecutor added that Mr Johnson then heard Peppiatt say something similar to "don't f***ing talk to me like that" before approaching Mr Eastlake from behind and punching him once in the back on the left side.
'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,' said Mr Evans.
Candles at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by a Facebook group
After the stabbing Peppiatt turned back and retraced his steps as Mr Eastlake continued towards Essex Road before collapsing in a car park.
Members of the public, including some who knew Mr Eastlake, ran to help him and one called the emergency services. Despite their best efforts Mr Eastlake died just before 6pm.
The stab wound was found to be 6.5cm deep and had caused damage to the thoracic aorta, the main blood vessel in the body.
Peppiatt told the court that his girlfriend and cousins told him his mother had attempted to take her own life two weeks before she died.
He claimed that on May 29, Mr Eastlake had turned up at his house asking him why people were calling him blaming him for his mother's death.
Peppiatt said Mr Eastlake was fuming and told him he was 'p-d off,' adding: 'What have you been going round telling everyone?'
'I said I didn't know what he's talking about,' Peppiatt told the court.
'He said to me "where the f-k was you when she killed herself" and then he said to me "it's your fault that she killed herself" and then went on to make a comment about me thinking I'm a big man because I paid her rent.
'And then I said "you're just p*ssed your free ride was over".'
