This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7909563.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Woman guilty over shopper death | Woman guilty over shopper death |
| (about 1 hour 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 jumping a queue. | Antonette Richardson called boyfriend Tony Virasami into Sainsbury's in Merton, south London, after she was accused of jumping a queue. |
| Virasami, 38, admitted manslaughter. He mistakenly punched Kevin Tripp, 57, who suffered a fatal brain injury - it was another shopper who had complained. | Virasami, 38, admitted manslaughter. He mistakenly punched Kevin Tripp, 57, who suffered a fatal brain injury - it was another shopper who had complained. |
| Richardson, 37, had denied the charge at Southwark Crown Court. | Richardson, 37, had denied the charge at Southwark Crown Court. |
| Richardson, of Sedgehill Road, Catford, had been accused of pushing in front of shopper Adam Prendergast, as she went to buy a packet of cigarettes. Both Richardson and Virasami had previous convictions | |
| Richardson, who is a grandmother, phoned Virasami, who was waiting in a car nearby, and when he came into the store she pointed out Mr Prendergast. | Richardson, who is a grandmother, 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. |
| ME sufferer | ME sufferer |
| 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 told the court she was shocked and disgusted when 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. | 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. | "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. |
| We do not understand how someone would get so angry over something like queue jumping that they can hit someone and cause their death Family statement | We do not understand how someone would get so angry over something like queue jumping that they can hit someone and cause their death Family statement |
| "I had to explain to our five-year-old daughter... She talks about daddy having all the wires in him." | "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". | In a statement Mr Tripp's sisters Gillian, Laurel and Joan and brother Derek said he was a "wonderful brother". |
| "We do not understand how someone would get so angry over something like queue jumping that they can hit someone and cause their death. | "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." | "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. | 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. | Both will be sentenced at a later date. |