Woman, 26, 'killed confused Alzheimer's patient, 82, by pushing her over during catastrophic loss of patience at bank'

A WOMAN killed a confused Alzheimer's patient by pushing her over during a “catastrophic loss of mood” at a bank.

A 'red mist' is said to have descended on Courtney Richman as she waited in line at Lloyd's in Howardsgate, Hertfordshire.

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The 26-year-old pushed Myra Coutinho-Lopez, 82, to the ground and she died in hospital 10 days later, jurors heard.

Luton Crown Court was told Alzheimer's The patient, a regular customer at the bank, had become confused about whether she had drawn the lottery money 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 previously told Richman: “Don't talk to me like that – you're very rude”. swinging her handbag and hit the pensioner.

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.

She 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, tell 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 denies manslaughter and an alternative, lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm.

The process continues.