William French, known to friends and family as Owen, sustained a catastrophic brain injury and never regained consciousness after Alfie Conway-Ryle violently assaulted him in Southwark Park in June 2024.
While in hospital months later, he was diagnosed with lung cancer but medical professionals concluded he was too unwell to undergo treatment because of the condition he had been left in by the attack.
After Owen died in March 2025 at the age of 66, detectives launched a murder investigation, working with clinicians and medical experts to prove that the assault had denied him the opportunity to receive cancer treatment and had materially contributed to his death.
26 year old Alfie Conway-Ryle from Southwark has today been found guilty of Owen’s murder at Croydon Crown Court.
He will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, the 4th of December.
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.”
In a statement, Owen’s family said:
“Justice has finally been served today for our beloved uncle. To the legal team, the police, and every professional who fought tirelessly to bring us this result, we offer our deepest and most sincere thank you. To our family, who sat in that courtroom every single day for two painful weeks, your strength and unwavering unity have carried us through our darkest hours.
“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.
“If we could have just one more moment with him, we would tell him how deeply he is loved and missed. We didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. You didn’t wake up, the moment you were taken into the hospital, you didn’t wake up. Our uncle did not deserve this cruel and senseless violence, and while nothing can ever fill the void left by his loss, his unconditional love will remain the guiding light of our family forever.
“Your remaining brothers will continue to look after us, so don’t worry, uncle. Justice has been served. You can rest easy now.”
