A 26-year-old woman killed a frail pensioner in a “catastrophic loss of temper” by pushing her over in a bank, a jury heard today/Monday, February 19, 2024.
“Red mist” is alleged to have descended on Courtney Richman who is accused of the manslaughter of Myra Countinho-Lopez, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
The 82-year-old died on 16th December 2021, 10 days after she had been pushed to the floor of Lloyds Bank in Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City, Herts.
Prosecutor Martin Mulgrew told the jury of seven men and five women at Luton Crown Court the assault took place in the afternoon of Monday, December 6, 2023, as a queue of customers developed.
Mrs Coutinho-Lopez was a regular customer at the bank and was well-known to the staff. As she suffered Alzheimer’s she often forgot she had been into the back and had withdrawn money.
She had gone to the bank at 2pm on the Monday, having forgotten she had withdrawn money on the previous Friday.
“Mrs Coutinho-Lopez became worried and asked the cashier to show her the balance. She was told she had withdrawn money the previous Friday. She became more confused and said she hadn’t,” said the prosecutor.
Another member of staff came over to try to reassure her, but she said: “I want to speak to the manager. I am worried.”
There was only one cashier on duty and a queue of customers grew with one of the them, the defendant Courtney Richman, saying: “There is nothing they can do. Move out of the way. “
It was alleged that Courtney Richman became more angry as she felt the pensioner was wasting everyone’s time. She is alleged to have pulled down her covid mask and made aggressive remarks saying: “Hurry up – people don’t have all day.”
Another woman customer, who had been using a cash machine, offered to help the elderly woman. As she walked the 82-year-old away, Courtney Richman is alleged to have said: “Oh thank God” and sarcastically applauded.
When Mrs Coutinho-Lopez passed Courtney Richman in the queue she told her: “Don’t speak to me like that – you are very rude.” She swung her handbag and struck the defendant.
Mr Mulgrew said: “The defendant reacted in a wholly inappropriate and unreasonably violent manner. She angrily pushed Mrs Coutinho-Lopez forcefully to the floor of the bank. She struck the floor with some force.”
He went on: “The red mist descended on this defendant and she reacted in a wholly inappropriate fashion to this vulnerable old lady.”
The victim suffered fractures of her left upper arm and thigh bone and bruising to her left upper arm, wrist, the tops of her fingers, around her rib cage and flank.
As well as Alzheimer’s, she suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“If you push an 82 year old woman to the floor of bank there is going to be some risk.
“The prosecution say she unlawful assaulted her and as a result of the fractures fatty substances were released in her body that caused damage to her lungs and brain,” said Mr Mulgrew.
Richman left the bank, but the following day a police officer who was in the bank saw a woman wearing two hooded tops who matched her description. Richman told the officer the old lady had been “rude and abusive.”
She said victim had told her: “I bet your boyfriend has left you” and then hit her with her handbag.
In a prepared statement at the police station she said Mrs Coutinho-Lopez was being rude and directed her anger towards her and hit her. She said: “I was shocked and instinctively pushed her away. I feared she was assault me. I used open palms.”
Courtney Richman of Queens Avenue, Welwyn Garden City denies manslaughter and an alternative, lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
Case proceeding
FEBRUARY 2024 LINKS TO THE PAPERS
BEDFORD BOROUGH BULLETIN
https://digital.magmgr.com/Preview/Index/2696089#page/1
KEMPSTON CALLING
https://digital.magmgr.com/Preview/Index/2696145#page/1
BEDS COUNTY BULLETIN
https://digital.magmgr.com/Preview/Index/2696133#page/1
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