Not Guilty: Xmas Shopper Cleared Of Killing Fellow-Customer In 'Trolley Rage' Tragedy

A Marks & Spencer Christmas customer, accused of killing a frail fellow-shopper by ramming him with her trolley, has been cleared of manslaughter.

Widower Michael Buckley, 60, suffered a broken wrist and thighbone when knocked to the floor of the store in The Glades shopping centre, Bromley, but never recovered and died three months later.

Melanie Serita Buck, 33, of Chelford Road, Bromley was found not guilty of the charge, plus an alternative count of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

She was with her mother at 1pm and pushing a trolley when she clashed with Mr. Buckley, who was carrying a basket inside the busy store on December 22, 2012.

"Mr. Buckley was browsing the food aisle when he came into contact with the defendant," prosecutor Mr. David Howker QC told Croydon Crown Court.

"There was something of a gridlock in the aisle and the defendant could not get past him. 

"There may have been a clash between his basket and her trolley and a few words exchanged and the upshot was Miss Buck deliberately rammed Mr. Buckley with her trolley and the result was to knock him to the floor."

The first words out of the injured man's mouth as Buck fled toward the exit were: "She rammed me."

Mr. Buckley was only eight stone and 5 foot five inches tall and described as "frail" by Mr. Howker, who added: "A fractured kneecap he had a few years earlier slowed him down.

"Miss Buck assaulted Mr. Buckley. causing him to fall to the floor and injure himself and cause the chain of events that led to his death. She is responsible for that death."

Buck was arrested on Boxing Day. "She said she was being bumped in the legs by Mr. Buckley's basket and was trying to get past him and hit him accidentally with her trolley."

Mr. Buckley, of Whatman Road, Forest Hill died on March 5, 2013 at Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough, Kent after three months in intensive care following complications relating to his injuries.

Mr. Buckley, had lost his wife Irene two years before his death, also had severe hearing problems and had retired from an office job at Camberwell New Green Cemetery.

"He could have had a heart attack at any time and Miss Buck would not have known that when she rammed the trolley into him."