Jail for Man Who Assaulted Disabled Veteran Who Later Died
Gary Curran dodged murder charge due to lack of evidence
Gary Curran. Picture: Met Police
March 7, 2023
A 53-year-old man has been jailed for an attack on a disabled veteran in Fulham who was found dead in his flat a few days later.
Gary Curran, of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to GBH at the Old Bailey on Friday 3 March, but because it was determined that the evidence did not prove his attack necessarily led to the death of 50-year-old Stephen Wallis, he received a sentence this Monday which means he could be free before the end of the year.
Stephen was found dead in his flat on Barclay Close on 15 February. On 10 February, he had confided to a medical professional during a regular home visit that a friend had assaulted him the night before in a row over drugs. Stephen had become addicted after receiving life changing injuries while serving in the Gulf War.
He was admitted to hospital the following day but he declined to tell staff who was responsible. The police attempted to contact him after he was discharged but without success and he was last seen alive on 13 February entering his flat.
On 14 February, the medical professional knocked on the door of the flat but got no response. After attending again the following day and failing to make contact with Stephen on his mobile, the police were called. They forced entry and found Stephen’s body inside.
It was later determined that the man responsible for the attack was Curran and he was arrested and charged with murder. However, following further investigation and pathology results, no direct link could be established between the assault and Stephen’s death. The charge was subsequently amended to GBH.
Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said, “Gary Curran carried out a violent assault that caused serious harm to a vulnerable man in his own home.
“While no link between the assault and Stephen’s death could be scientifically established, it is clear from speaking to those who came into contact with him in the days between the attack and his death that he was in pain and traumatised by the incident."
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