THE pensioner who was axed to death on a leafy Swiss Cottage street wanted to be a beat poet and spent his days writing off-the-wall avant garde poetry, a friend of the victim has told the New Journal.
Brian Messitt, 67, was murdered in exclusive Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage, on Monday morning. Waiter Joseph Sheehan, from Chalk Farm, appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday) charged with the killing.
According to friend Michael Griffin, who lived in the same flats in a converted Haverstock Hill house, Mr Messitt passed his days penning William Burroughs-style poems. Mr Griffin, a journalist, painted a picture of a pensioner who was interested in photography, travel and 1950s’ and 60s’ alternative literature.
He said: “He was interested in the beat poets and that kind of writing.”
Mr Messitt’s son Sean said: “Our whole family is in disbelief and terrible shock.”
Mr Messitt’s death was the third brutal killing in Camden in the last 10 days.

In a special report New Journal reporters look at how two communities are dealing with the grief and fear caused by shock murders

A COMMUNITY united in grief at an emotional service for murdered mother and daughter Nicole Batten and Ukleigha Batten-Froggat on Tuesday night.
More than 200 friends, neighbours and relatives gathered in the cold and dark, holding candles outside Levita House, the Camden Council block where Nicole and Ukleigha lived and died in Ossulston Street, Somers Town.
Father Rob Wickham, of St Mary’s Church in nearby Eversholt Street, led the crowd in prayer in front of a home made shrine, which was covered in dozens of bouquets of flowers, cards and soft toys left by those who knew and loved the young family.

AXE murder victim Brian Messitt travelled the world visiting India and Tibet, neighbours said.
Mr Messitt’s grief-stricken son Sean and his girlfriend returned to the family home in Haverstock Hill, Belsize Park, yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon accompanied by a family support officer from Scotland Yard.
A family statement said: “Brian was an average, peaceful and polite pensioner. During his past time he enjoyed long walks in nature, reading, football and telling funny stories. Our feelings for him are that of affection and respect. Our whole family is in disbelief and terrible shock.”

CAMDEN Council’s chief executive last night (Wednesday) revealed plans for the Town Hall’s biggest ever shake-up in a bid to provide better services for ‘at risk’ children.
In a radical restructuring plan, Moira Gibb told the New Journal that the council’s departments will be merged and a new portfolio for Children’s Services will be set-up.
The sweeping changes are part of obligations coming out of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry, the probe into the murder of an abused toddler in Hackney.
Coincidentally, the plan to put the inquiry’s recommendations comes just two weeks after the shocking killing of six-year-old Ukleigha Batten-Froggatt in a flat in Levita House, Somers Town.

STUNNED neighbours have recalled the chilling moment they realised a man had been bludgeoned to death outside their homes.
Brian Messitt, 67, died after being attacked with an axe in Eton Avenue at around 9.30am on Monday. He suffered serious head injuries after being dealt a series of crippling blows with a two-foot hatchet.
The extent of the attack left Mr Messitt’s head partially detached. His body was found in a pool of blood after a man and woman passing in a car stopped and called police.

THE horrific axe murder of Brian Messitt in Eton Avenue came just two weeks after a warning that the Swiss Cottage needed greater police protection.
Tory Councillor Andrew Mennear warned a full council meeting that residents were worried that the area had become a blossoming crime hotspot.
The Swiss Cottage electoral ward is due to get a Safer Neighbourhoods police programme which will see officers stationed in the area.