Two men guilty of killing 83-year-old man in failed attempt to rob him in Hall Green
Detectives say "this was a violent attack on Neil O'Donnell who was simply going about his day"
Last updated 22nd Nov 2025
Two men who killed an 83-year-old man in a failed bid to rob him of his watch are facing jail for his manslaughter.
Police say on 14th May this year Neil O’Donnell had just pulled into a rehabilitation centre on Shaftmoor Lane, Hall Green, to visit his partner when career criminal Tony Griffin, who was armed with what was believed to be screwdriver, ran up to his car and tried to grab the watch.
Neil managed to fend Griffin off and he was chased away by staff. Neil was treated in hospital for an arm injury caused by Griffin grappling with him and later discharged.
But the court heard how his health deteriorated, and he sadly died from complications arising from an infection caused by the injury a week after the attack.
A West Midlands Police investigation established how accomplice Wesley McDonnell had arrived at a nearby Co-op store at the same time as Neil, around 30 minutes before the attack.
Detectives say McDonnell was seen on CCTV looking at Neil’s watch. He picked up Griffin nearby and the men were then pictured following Neil’s car as it left the car park on the short journey to the rehabilitation centre, where the attack happened.
Officers say Griffin, aged 54, was captured on CCTV dumping his top and cap in a wheelie bin as he fled the scene on foot, and both men were identified by officers.
Police add that Wesley McDonnell, aged 46, was identified by facial recognition from CCTV images, with further enquiries identifying Tony Griffin as his accomplice.
Yesterday (Friday 21 November 2025) the pair, of College Road, Birmingham, were both found guilty of manslaughter after a trial at Warwick Crown Court.
Griffin had admitted attempted robbery at an earlier hearing, and McDonnell was found guilty of the same offence today.
They will be sentenced in January.
Det Insp Nigel Box, from our Homicide team, said: “This was a violent attack on an elderly man who was simply going about his day.
“You can see from the footage that the struggle lasted some time, and Griffin was clearly determined to take the watch, despite Neil resisting.
“We were able to show that the injury to Neil’s arm directly led to his death, and the CCTV showed Griffin and McDonnell as the two men involved.
“They are both career criminals and wrongly assumed Neil would be an easy target.
“Neil’s death has been devastating for his family, who have asked for privacy while they continue to grieve. We have supported them throughout the court process, and our thoughts are with them today.”