A WOMAN killed a confused Alzheimer’s sufferer by pushing her over during a “catastrophic loss of temper” at a bank.
A “red mist” allegedly descended on Courtney Richman as she waited in line at the Lloyd’s in Howardsgate, Hertfordshire.
The 26-year-old shoved Myra Coutinho-Lopez, 82, to the ground and she died in hospital ten days later, jurors heard.
Luton Crown Court was told the Alzheimer’s patient, 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 allegedly 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, it was said.
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.
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.
“If you push an 82-year old-woman to the floor of a bank there is going to be some risk.”
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.
Jurors heard 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.”
Richman denies manslaughter and an alternative, lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
The trial continues.
