Man accused of killing Canadian pensioner in Willesden with a push
Keith Norbrega died on New Years Day (Pic credit: keithnobrega.blogspot.co.uk) - Credit: Archant
A Canadian pensioner was killed in Willesden after he tried to calm down a row sparked by a neighbour calling his sister ‘big a***’, a court heard.
The Old Bailey heard claims that Janusz Plethiewicz, 44, shoved Keith Norbrega, 71, against a parked car in Roundwood Road after launching a verbal tirade against his sister Eve Norbrega.
Mr Norbrega had a massive heart attack and died hours after the incident on January 1 this year.
Plethiewicz, of Roundwood Road, is now standing trial accused of manslaughter.
The pensioner had travelled to the UK from Toronto to see his younger brother Bruce and their sister at her home in Roundwood Road.
They were all sitting out in a car parked outside when Plethiewicz, who lived above Mrs Norbrega, started calling her ‘big arse’, the Old Bailey heard.
Mr Norbrega’s younger brother started to shout back and at one point picked up a piece of wood.
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The victim, who suffered a heart aneurysm in 2008, approached Plethiewicz to calm the situation down, it was said.
But the ‘fit and healthy’ Pole shoved the elderly man in the chest, causing him to stumble backwards against the car, jurors were told.
Plethiewicz, who was allegedly drunk, went back into his flat and had to be woken by police when they came to arrest him later that day, the court heard.
A post-mortem report revealed Mr Norbrega had ‘significant issues’ with his heart that meant he was at an increased risk of sudden death at any time, jurors heard.
Jonathon Polnay, prosecuting, told the court: “It is not the prosecution case at all that this defendant intended to cause Mr Norbrega’s death, but he is still legally responsible for causing the death.”
Plethiewicz denies manslaughter.
The trial continues.
