Security guard died ending row over chips, court hears
An off-duty security guard died after tackling a drunk at a hospital restaurant during a row over a plate of chips, a court heard today.
Richard Griffiths was drunk when he tried to punch a chef at Milton Keynes General Hospital who had demanded money for the meal.
He went on to struggle with Mr Bob Robinson in the restaurant but as the pair fought, both fell on to the hard tiled floor, leaving Mr Robinson with fatal injuries.
St Albans Crown Court heard today that Mr Robinson, aged 61, a dock officer at Northampton Crown Court, went to the aid of chef Mustafa Afassi-Alami on May 5 last year but died after suffering skull fractures in the struggle with 49-year-old Griffiths.
Griffiths, of Tinker’s Bridge, Milton Keynes, appeared at court today to stand trial on one charge of manslaughter.
John Dennis, prosecuting, told the jury: “While Mr Robinson was trying to restrain this man who was punching out, the defendant tried to throw off Mr Robinson, jumping up backwards.
“Both of them fell on the ground. Mr Robinson, when he fell, banged his head hard on the floor.
“The prosecution say that caused several skull fractures and it caused substantial damage to his brain.
“He also suffered as a result of that injury a cardiac arrest. The cause of death, and the cardiac arrest, was from the head injuries he suffered.”
Griffiths, the court heard, had been seen drunk in the areas around the hospital earlier that evening.
He has admitted punching off-licence worker Melanie Roche and stealing two cans of lager from her shop as well as the assault on Mr Afassi-Alami.
He went into the hospital café at around 8pm where staff helped serve him a plate of sausage and chips as he appeared unwell and unsteady on his feet.
He began arguing with Mr Afassi-Alami when the chef smelled alcohol on his breath and demanded that Griffiths pay for the food.
Blood tests later found he was more than three times the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the incident.
Griffiths swung a punch at the chef but was then restrained by Mr Robinson in a “full nelson“ wrestling-type hold, the court heard.
As Griffiths struggled to get free, said counsel, the pair fell backwards, with Mr Robinson banging his head hard on the tiled floor.
Nurses failed in attempts to revive him in the hospital.
