Man convicted of murder after assault left victim unable to receive cancer treatment

A man has been found guilty of murder after he left a victim in a coma and unable to receive life-saving cancer treatment.

Alfie Conway-Ryle, 26, brutally assaulted 66-year-old William Ffrench in Southwark Park in June 2024 by repeatedly stamping on his head.

Alfie Conway-Ryle

Met Police

CCTV showed the pair involved in an altercation near Surrey Canal. Conway-Ryle told a bystander that he was going to kill Mr Ffrench, before tripping the victim up and carrying out the violent attack.

More than 15 stamps were inflicted in around just 40 seconds.

Mr Ffrench - known to his loved ones as Owen - was left with a catastrophic brain injury, extensive facial fractures, and broken ribs. He never regained consciousness after the assault.

In the months after the attack, Mr Ffrench was diagnosed with lung cancer, but was found by medical professionals to be too unwell to undergo treatment.

He tragically died in March 2025.

William Ffrench died in March 2025

Met Police

Detectives consequently launched a murder investigation, working with clinicians and medical professionals, to establish that the assault had denied him the opportunity to receive cancer treatment and had materially contributed to his death.

Findings concluded that Mr Ffrench was deprived of “potentially life-saving cancer treatment” because of the attack.

On Wednesday, Conway-Ryle of Ilderton Road in Southwark was found guilty of murder at Croydon Crown Court.

He will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on December 4.

In a statement, Mr Ffrench’s family said: “My uncle was the life and soul of this family, teaching us all how to live life and enjoy every single moment. He was somebody's son, somebody's brother, and a truly loving, caring, and selfless man who had endless time for every one of us. When the family lost his brother in 2001, our uncle stepped up without hesitation to be a father to the siblings and a grandfather to the nieces and nephew, ensuring everyone felt protected, cherished, and never alone.”

The statement added that the family never got a “chance to say goodbye”, adding that Mr Ffrench “did not deserve this cruel and senseless violence”

The family thanked the legal team, police, and professionals who “fought tirelessly to bring [them] this result.”“Your remaining brothers will continue to look after us, so don't worry, uncle. Justice has been served. You can rest easy now,” the statement concluded.

Detective Inspector Richard Mackenzie, who led the investigation said: "The investigation did not end with Owen's assault. Following his death, detectives were faced with the complex and unique task of understanding the long-term impact of the injuries inflicted by Conway-Ryle.

"Working alongside a range of specialist medical experts, we established that those injuries left Owen unable to receive treatment for cancer diagnosed months later, denying him the opportunity of potentially life-saving care. This evidence was instrumental in proving the assault to had fatal consequences long after the attack itself.

"Owen's family and close friends have endured an unimaginably long and painful journey since this attack. While no verdict can undo their loss, we hope today's outcome holds Conway-Ryle accountable for the devastating consequences of his actions."