Horror moment woman kills confused Alzheimer’s sufferer, 82, by pushing her over in bank queue after ‘seeing red’
THIS is the horror moment a woman killed a confused Alzheimer’s sufferer by shoving her over in a bank.
Courtney Richman suffered a “catastrophic loss of temper” as she waited in line at the Lloyd’s in Howardsgate, Hertfordshire.
Myra Coutinho-Lopez was shoved to the ground by Courtney RichmanSWNS
SWNSShe died ten days later from her injuries[/caption]
Richman avoided jail for manslaughter
The 26-year-old pushed Myra Coutinho-Lopez, 82, to the floor – causing her to land on her hip and shoulder,
Tragically, the pensioner died ten days in hospital from her injuries.
Horror footage has now been released of the fatal shove after Richman was handed a 16 month sentence, suspended for 21 months, for manslaughter.
Myra could be seen having a discussion with a cashier as customers wait behind her.
As she moves away from the desk, Richman says something to the OAP, who responds by swinging her handbag and hitting the killer.
Richman then shoves Myra to the floor before customers rush over to help.
In a victim impact statement, Myra’s daughter Michelle Lopez said Richman’s “heinous and vicious behaviour had left an “unfathomable void in my life”.
She added: “The yearning for my mother’s presence is a constant ache in my heart, particularly as I observe other daughters engaging in mundane activities with their mothers, such as grocery shopping or sharing a coffee or meal together. These memorable moments now evoke a feeling of emptiness.
“Those who knew her miss her deeply and will continue to cherish her memory and honour her legacy of kindness, fortitude and generosity.
“She was a shining light on how to survive and thrive in life despite adversities and setbacks.”
Luton Crown Court was told the horror unfolded in December 2021.
Myra, who was a regular at the bank, had become confused over whether she had drawn money out from her account.
A queue started to form behind her – causing Richman to tell the pensioner: “There is nothing they can do. Move out the way.”
Richman then grew more irate as time went on and eventually declared: “Hurry up – people don’t have all day.”
She then sarcastically clapped and said “oh thank God” as another customer stepped in to help Myra and get her out the bank.
As she passed, Myra told Richman “don’t speak to me like that – you are very rude” before swinging her handbag and striking the pensioner.
The court was told Myra, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suffered fractures of her left upper arm and thigh bone.
She also had bruising to her left upper arm, wrist, the tops of her fingers and around her rib cage and flank.
Myra died ten days later after “fatty substances were released in her body that caused damage to her lungs and brain”, it was said.
Richman, who left the bank at the time of the alleged killing on December 6, 2021, later told police Myra was rude to her.
She said: “I was shocked and instinctively pushed her away. I feared she was assaulting me. I used open palms.”
Sentencing, Judge Michael Simon was critical of Lloyd’s banking staff for failing to defuse the situation.
He said: “The court calls on the banking sector as a whole to ensure that all customer-facing staff are provided with dementia awareness training, which includes recognised strategies for interacting with customers who experience such difficulties and for defusing conflict.
“It is not possible to be sure that if this had been in place in December 2021 that the events leading to the death of Mrs Coutinho-Lopez would not have happened, but on the evidence before this court it is highly likely that the incident would not have ended in tragedy as it did.”
Myra had git Richman with her bag after she was told to get a move onSWNS
Richman then ‘saw red’ and pushed the OAPSWNS
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