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Woman guilty of supermarket death | Woman guilty of supermarket death |
(41 minutes later) | |
A woman has been found guilty of manslaughter after a shopper was killed following a row over queue jumping. | A woman has been found guilty of manslaughter after a shopper was killed following a row over queue jumping. |
Antonette Richardson called boyfriend Tony Virasami into Sainsbury's in Merton, south London, after she was accused of pushing in front of a man. | Antonette Richardson called boyfriend Tony Virasami into Sainsbury's in Merton, south London, after she was accused of pushing in front of a man. |
Virasami, 38, who earlier admitted manslaughter, punched Kevin Tripp, 57, who suffered a fatal brain injury. | |
Richardson, 37, from Sedgehill Road, Catford, had denied the charge at Southwark Crown Court. | |
Jurors heard Kevin Tripp was the victim of mistaken identity | |
She had been accused of pushing in front of the queue by fellow shopper Adrian Prendergast, as she went to buy a packet of cigarettes. | She had been accused of pushing in front of the queue by fellow shopper Adrian Prendergast, as she went to buy a packet of cigarettes. |
Richardson phoned Virasami who was waiting in a car nearby and when he came into the store she pointed out Mr Prendergast. | |
However, Virasami mistook Mr Tripp for the person who shouted at his girlfriend, and punched him, the court heard. | However, Virasami mistook Mr Tripp for the person who shouted at his girlfriend, and punched him, the court heard. |
The jury saw CCTV footage of the unprovoked attack in June 2008, with the last shot capturing the fatally injured man's feet at the bottom of the frame. | The jury saw CCTV footage of the unprovoked attack in June 2008, with the last shot capturing the fatally injured man's feet at the bottom of the frame. |
Michael Worsley QC, prosecuting, said Virasami landed "the most almighty blow" on the victim, causing him to fall over and bang his head hard on the floor. | Michael Worsley QC, prosecuting, said Virasami landed "the most almighty blow" on the victim, causing him to fall over and bang his head hard on the floor. |
Richardson said she was disgusted her boyfriend hit the wrong person | |
Richardson told the court she was shocked and disgusted when her boyfriend hit the wrong person. | |
Mr Tripp, from Colliers Wood in south-west London - an ME sufferer who had a five-year-old daughter - died shortly afterwards in hospital. | Mr Tripp, from Colliers Wood in south-west London - an ME sufferer who had a five-year-old daughter - died shortly afterwards in hospital. |
In a statement Mr Tripp's partner Josie James said: "That he was able to be such a strong and supportive partner, father and brother despite being affected by ME is testament to his character. | |
"One of the last images my Rianna and I have of Kev is in the hospital on apparatus to keep him alive, bruised, yellow and so very, very cold. | |
"I had to explain to our five-year-old daughter... She talks about daddy having all the wires in him." | |
In a statement Mr Tripp's sisters Gillian, Laurel and Joan and brother Derek said he was a "wonderful brother".Virasami admitted manslaughter at an earlier hearing | |
"We do not understand how someone would get so angry over something like queue jumping that they can hit someone and cause their death. | |
"That neither has shown signs of remorse in court, even smiling at us during a previous hearing, makes it even harder to deal with and means we can never forgive them." | |
The jury took more than seven hours to deliver the 11-1 majority verdict. | The jury took more than seven hours to deliver the 11-1 majority verdict. |
Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said: "This is a serious case. Bail will be refused." | Judge Geoffrey Rivlin QC said: "This is a serious case. Bail will be refused." |
At the time of the attack Virasami was on bail, tagged and under curfew for shoplifting while Richardson has previous convictions for deception and handling stolen goods, the court heard. | |
Both will be sentenced at a later date. |