Woman, 26, who killed frail pensioner with Alzheimer’s after exploding with rage in bank queue guilty of manslaughter
A WOMAN who killed a frail pensioner after exploding with rage in a bank queue has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Courtney Richman, 26, shoved the "confused" Alzheimer's sufferer to the ground after a "catastrophic loss of temper" in Lloyd's in Howardsgate, Hertfordshire.
Eighty-two-year-old Myra Coutinho-Lopez hit the floor hard and was raced to hospital, where she tragically died 10 days later.
Richman was yesterday found guilty of manslaughter after a jury unanimously found she'd killed Myra.
Luton Crown Court previously heard how the OAP, 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."
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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.
The 26-year-old claimed a ";red mist" came over her.
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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.
The mum-of-four 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 had denied manslaughter and an alternative, lesser charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm.
When she was asked in court about Myra's death, the 26-year-old said: "I feel terrible, I think about it every day since it has happened."
The Jury's findings were welcomed by Myra's family.
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They 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."
The Sun has approached Lloyds for comment.