Inquest shown CCTV of pensioner pushed to the ground
DRAMATIC CCTV footage of the moment a pensioner was pushed to the ground suffering fatal head injuries outside his son's Sheffield newsagents has been shown at an inquest into his death.
A tape from a camera inside the shop, on Langsett Road, Hillsborough, which was regularly plagued by anti-social teenagers, was played at the beginning of a two-day hearing into the death of 80-year-old Lewis Wiles.
Images show only a narrow view through the shop doorway - but Mr Wiles can clearly be seen falling heavily backwards seconds after going outside to confront youths.
A post mortem examination by pathologist Professor Christopher Milroy revealed he suffered a double skull fracture and "non-survivable haemorrhage" in the sickening impact with the pavement.
Prof Milroy said: "It is clear he was forcefully pushed over."
CCTV showed Mr Wiles went out to the youths moments after his son Michael had just come back inside following a row with them.
Devastated Michael, who called emergency services, told how his father, who lived in Gleadless with wife Dorothy, 82, was fit for his age, healthy and a gentleman.
He said: "It's not the first time I have had arguments with the same gang but my father wouldn't be like me – he would kick them out of the shop. He was fed up of arguing.
"All I saw was my dad falling back. It could have been me, my assistant or any of my staff."
A teenage boy, arrested but later released without charge, admitted pushing the pensioner in self defence. The youth, who was 15 at the time of the incident, last September, and is now 16, said: "I hadn't been doing anything – he just kneed me in the groin. He tried to do it a second time and I put my hands out as a defence.
"He fell back and hit his head. I didn't push him forcefully. He's an old person, he could have been my granddad. If only I could turn back time."
The boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, admitted fleeing from the scene while Mr Wiles lay dying but said it was because he was "scared".
"I was shaken up and I'm still shaken up," he added.
His version of events was corroborated by Ann Balm and William Foster, who were waiting for a bus across the road, and Langsett estate resident, Peter Boswell, who was walking towards Michael Wiles's shop.
The inquest heard trouble at the newsagents started when Wesley Gordon, 20, called asking to buy a single cigarette rather than a packet.
The 15-year-old boy was already in the shop, having called in for a drink. Wesley was arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.
Wesley, who witnessed Mr Wiles' fall, said he tried to help as the pensioner lay on the ground.
The youth, who works as a driver and now lives in Nottingham, claimed he had to leave Sheffield because of his notoriety following the incident.
He added: "It wrecked my life. I lost my job, had no money to pay for my car and was kicked out of my home – all because I helped somebody."
Michael said: "There was a history between us."
The inquest was expected to conclude today.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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