Woman, 26, killed vulnerable pensioner with Alzheimer’s disease after exploding with anger in bank queue, guilty of manslaughter
A woman who murdered a frail pensioner after she flew into a rage in a bank queue has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Courtney Richman, 26, pushed the ‘confused’ Alzheimer’s sufferer on the ground after a “catastrophic loss of temper” in Lloyds in Howardsgate, Hertfordshire.
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82-year-old Myra Coutinho-Lopez landed hard on the ground and was rushed to hospital, where she tragically died ten days later.
Richman was found guilty of manslaughter yesterday after a jury unanimously found she murdered Myra.
Luton Crown Court previously heard how the OAP, a regular customer at the bank, had become confused about whether she had had money withdrawn from her account.
A line formed behind her, prompting Richman to tell the retiree, “They can’t do anything. Get out of the way.”
Richman would become increasingly furious as time went on, eventually declaring, “Hurry up, people don’t have all day.”
She then clapped sarcastically and said “oh thank goodness” when another customer intervened to help Myra and get her off the couch, it was said.
When she passed by, Myra told Richman: “Don’t talk to me like that – you’re very rude,” before brandishing her handbag and punching the pensioner.
The 26-year-old claimed a “red mist” came over her.
Prosecutor Martin Mulgrew said: “The defendant responded in a completely inappropriate and unreasonably violent manner.
“She angrily pushed Ms Coutinho-Lopez to the floor of the sofa with some force. She hit the floor with some force.
“If you push an 82-year-old woman onto the floor of a couch, there is some risk.”
The court was told Myra, who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, had fractures to her left upper arm and femur.
The mother of four also had bruising on her left upper arm, wrist, the tips of her fingers and around her ribcage and flank.
Myra died ten days later after “fatty substances were released into her body that caused damage to her lungs and brain”, it was said.
Jurors later heard Richman, who was leaving the bank at the time of the alleged murder on December 6, 2021, narrate Police Myra was rude to her.
She said: “I was shocked and instinctively pushed her away. I was afraid she was attacking me. I used open palms.”
Richman had denied manslaughter and an alternative, lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.
When asked in court about Myra’s death, the 26-year-old said: “I feel terrible, I think about it every day since it happened.”
The jury’s findings were welcomed by Myra’s family.
They said in a statement: “Myra’s life was taken from her on December 16, 2021, leaving a tremendous void for all who knew her, including her beloved children, extended family and lifelong friends around the world.”
The Sun has approached Lloyds for comment.