The pensioner arrested for murder yesterday after the death of a suspected burglar has been bailed until May

78-year-old Richard Osborn-Brooks was held following the incident, which took place early on Wednesday morning (April 4).

A 38-year-old man died after a struggle with the pensioner with eyewitnesses describing an accomplice who dragged him towards a van before leaving him for dead.

Officers were called to reports of a burglary in progress after two men entered a house in South Park Crescent in Hither Green, Met Police said.

One suspect, armed with a screwdriver, forced the 78-year-old homeowner into his kitchen when he discovered them, while his accomplice went upstairs, police said.

News Shopper: Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, was arrested on suspicion of murder after fatally wounding the intruder. Photo: Facebook

Detectives believe a struggle ensued between "one of the males and the homeowner" and the intruder was stabbed in the upper body but they refused to confirm whether the suspect had been stabbed with the screwdriver.

He was later found collapsed in nearby Further Green Road by paramedics from London Ambulance Service, who took him to a central London hospital where he died at 3.37am.

READ MORE: 'He was just protecting himself': Pensioner quizzed over murder after suspected burglar is stabbed

A witness, who lives in the road, told the Press Association he saw an accomplice try to rescue the suspect just before midnight before fleeing the scene.

He recalled seeing a white Vauxhall Astra van pull up next to a man "moaning and groaning" on the street who was "bleeding heavily from his chest through his shirt".

Its driver attempted to drag the man into the vehicle before driving off north when he noticed he was being watched, he said.

The witness told the Press Association: "People have been talking about a screwdriver but this wasn't a screwdriver wound, this was a knife. The wound was an inch long.

"I think that it was a knife and I think from what my partner said that the black guy (the driver) pulled it out and threw it away.

"The man on the ground was wearing a blue t-shirt and it was pulled up. I think he was dead already. His pupils were completely dilated."

READ MORE: What the law says about defending yourself against an intruder

The second suspect fled the scene and has yet to be found.

The pensioner, who suffered bruising to his arms, was initially arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm but has been further arrested on suspicion of murder, the Met said.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

The dead suspect's next of kin have been informed. A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.