Man convicted of manslaughter after killing pensioner in row over parking space in Brent

A man has been convicted of manslaughter for killing a pensioner in a row over a parking space.

Abdelaziz Maaroufi, 25, of Woodside End, Alperton, appeared at Harrow Crown Court on Wednesday, July 12, where he was convicted of the manslaughter of Peter Marecheau.

Mr Marecheau, 67, received a fatal head injury during the dispute on September 9 2022 at an industrial estate in Alperton, North West London.

Police were made aware by the London Ambulance Service at 4.20pm that Mr Maracheau had been taken to hospital following the incident. A crime scene was put in place at Abbey Industrial Estate, and officers attended the hospital where he was being treated for a life-threatening head injury.

Sadly, he died in hospital on Monday September 12, with Maaroufi, arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detectives established that the victim worked at an industrial unit on the estate and had parked his car outside a nearby unit, where the defendant worked. The unwritten rule on the estate was that if a car needed to be moved, someone would toot their horn and the vehicle would be moved.

However, on this day, the owner of the unit sounded his horn three times before Marecheau  emerged from his workshop. An argument broke out between Marecheau and the owner of the unit.

Maaroufi took it upon himself to get involved in the argument and pushed Marecheau four times. Despite others trying to diffuse the situation and Marecheau backing away, Maaroufi punched Marecheau once in the face, causing him to fall backwards onto the floor, which in turn caused a significant head injury.

Following Marecheau’s death, a post mortem examination concluded that he had died as a result of blunt force head injury.

Detective Inspector Louise Caveen of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “We don’t know what made Maaroufi involve himself in the argument or why he resorted to extreme violence.

“Violence is never the right option, no matter what the disagreement, and anyone who allows their temper free reign in this way risks finding themselves in the same position as the defendant.”

Detective Inspector Caveen added: “My thoughts are very much with Peter’s family today. I hope that they can find a small measure of solace in knowing that Abdelaziz Maaroufi will face the consequences of his actions.”