Man, 93, died after parking fight

Version 0 of 1.

An elderly man was knocked to the ground and died after trying to break up a fight over a car park space, an inquest ruled.

Alfred Lockhart, 93, tried to stop a fight between his son, Alan, and haulage firm boss Trevor Denford.

It followed a row over a parking space which his son had taken on a Plymouth industrial estate.

Deputy Coroner Andrew Cox recorded a narrative verdict, saying a "deplorable set of circumstances" led to the death.

Alan Lockhart, 52, told the inquest in Plymouth that on 3 November 2007 he and his father left their car on an industrial estate in Plymouth, Devon.

The area is private parking paid for by Mr Denford for his haulage vehicles but is unmarked, with no signs or street markings.

'Deplorable' circumstances

The court heard that when Alan Lockhart returned, a lorry had parked so close to the driver side of his car that he could not get in.

When he asked Mr Denford to move it, there was an argument and fight.

When Alfred Lockhart intervened to help his son, he fell to the floor. He was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Mr Cox said: "The fact that a man in his 90s has died as a result of a squabble over car park space is a deplorable set of circumstances."

Mr Denford was arrested following the incident but was later released with no further action.

After the inquest, a Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said described the circumstances of Mr Lockhart's death as tragic.

There was insufficient evidence to warrant a prosecution arising from the Mr Lockhart's death, he said.