Courtney Richman, 26, suffered a ‘catastrophic loss of temper’ as she waited for Myra Coutinho-Lopez, 82 (Picture: South Beds News Agency)
A woman pushed over and killed a frail pensioner with Alzheimer’s while waiting in a bank queue.
Courtney Richman, 26, suffered a ‘catastrophic loss of temper’ as she waited when Myra Coutinho-Lopez, 82, became ‘confused’ about the funds in her account.
She had forgotten she withdrew money three days earlier and had a 15-minute argument with the cashier – causing a long queue to develop at the Llyod’s branch in Welwyn Garden City.
But a ‘red mist’ descended on Richman, who shouted: ‘Hurry up, people don’t have all day.’
As Mrs Coutinho-Lopez, a mum-of-four, walked away after another customer offered to help, Richman started applauding.
This prompted Mrs Coutinho-Lopez to say: ‘Don’t speak to me like that, you are very rude. I bet your boyfriend has left you.’
She then swung her handbag at Richman, who responded by pushing her to the floor, leaving her with multiple injuries.
Mrs Coutinho-Lopez suffered fractures to her left upper arm and thigh, which released fatty substances into her body which caused damage to her lungs and brain.
Mrs Countinho-Lopez, who suffered from Alzheimer’s, forgot she withdrew money three days earlier (Picture: SBNA)
She died in hospital 10 days later.
Richman was found guilty of manslaughter at Luton Crown Court.
Mrs Coutinho-Lopez’s family said in a statement: ‘Myra’s life was taken away from her on December 16, 2021, and has left behind a tremendous void to all who knew her including her beloved children, extended family and lifelong friends worldwide.’
Prosecutor Martin 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. The red mist descended on this defendant.’
There was ‘gasps’ from the other customers when Mrs Coutinho-Lopez ended up on the floor, she added.
But Richman, a mum-of-two, said she acted instinctively when she was ‘whacked’ with the handbag.
She said: ‘I feel terrible, I think about it every day since it has happened.’
She said it was not obvious to her the victim had cognitive difficulties.
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