The 78-year-old man who was arrested when he allegedly 'stabbed an armed burglar to death' has been bailed.
Neighbours of the pensioner have leapt to his defence, saying he should be 'given a medal' - not a murder charge - following his second night in the cells.
Boxer Tony Bellew has also spoken out, with the three time ABA Heavyweight Champion tweeting his 511k followers slamming the justice system and telling them to give the homeowner a 'round of applause'.
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The tweet, which has 32,204 likes, was posted hours before reports emerged that the retiree has been bailed until May pending further enquiries.
According to Metropolitan Police, two men broke into the suburban home just after midnight yesterday morning.
They were confronted by 78-year-old retiree, Richard Osborn-Brooks, who was upstairs asleep with his wife.
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One of the alleged burglars, 38, got into a scuffle with Mr Osborn-Brooks and suffered a stab wound to the upper body.
It is reported that he was armed with a screwdriver when he got into the property.
He later collapsed and died in hospital.
Mr Osborn-Brooks was arrested on suspicion of murder, but his neighbours have claimed he was well within his rights.
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His friend, Tony Guest, 61, posted on Facebook to say he 'deserves a medal and should be let free'.
He wrote: "So a 78 year old man gets burgled by 2 men in South East London.
"There is a scuffle and the old man has slight injuries but managed to stab one of the burglars and he shortly died.
"The other burglar is on the run but the 78 year old is arrested for murder. So this is British justice is it? Where is our protection?
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"The old man deserves a medal and to be let free."
Mr Osborn-Brooks was originally arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, but was held for murder when the man died of his injuries.
The deceased is believed to have escaped with his accomplice, but collapsed in a pool of blood nearby before doctors battled to save him.
The ex-RAC manager's neigbour, Nick Myatt, told MailOnline that Mr Osborn-Brooks was a 'lovely old man'.
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He added: "He cares for his wife who I think has dementia or is disabled.
"He's a nice man, nice to talk to. He's an old man - it's a shame really. I hope the law sees sense and let's him off. I don't think it's right.
"I just hope he gets off.
"One of the police told me it's definitely him that's been arrested."
Neighbourhood Watch member SylbourneSydial, who is in his 40s, said: "A man should be able to defend his home... your home is your castle and I believe your neighbourhood is your kingdom.
"I have got a wife and child and sometimes I'm out of London - we will have to have a serious discussion with the police about if something like this happens."
Adam Lake, who lives nearby, was also keen to defend his neighbour.
He said: "He doesn't deserve to be punished for defending himself, and the neighbours that I've spoken to all agree that the priority needs to be to support him after everything that he's been through.
"He was just protecting himself after all."
Neighbour, Clem Williams, who has lived on the road for 20 years also questioned the man's arrest, asking: "Why were the men at his house? The man has a right to defend his home. They should let him go."
Now former cabinet minister and Tory MP Priti Patel joined the debate.
She told The Daily Telegraph: "There is a gulf in public confidence in the criminal justice system. This is an issue for everyone to get a grip of.
"This is a man who is clearly a victim of a horrendous crime. We must always put the interests of the victims at the heart of our justice system and not just come out on the side of offenders."
Police have said the second burglary suspect fled the scene before they arrived, and they are still trying to track him down.
The homeowner suffered bruising to his arms but police said his injuries are not life threatening. He remains in custody at a south London police station.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "At 00:45hrs on Wednesday, 4 April, police were called by a homeowner to reports of a burglary in progress at an address in South Park Crescent, Hither Green SE6, and a man injured.
"The 78-year-old resident found two males inside the address. A struggle ensued between one of the males and the homeowner. The man, aged 38, sustained a stab wound to the upper body.
"London Ambulance Service took the injured male, who was found collapsed in Further Green Road, SE8, to a central London hospital. He was pronounced dead at 03:37hrs."
Police were unable to confirm whether the suspect had been stabbed with the screwdriver.
The Met confirmed the next of kin of the man who died have been informed, though the he has not yet been formally identified. A post-mortem examination will be scheduled.
Scotland Yard confirmed the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command was investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CAD214/4Apr. To remain anonymous they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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