Aggressive British cop gives woman fatal heart attack

A police firearms officer has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a woman died following a road-rage row outside her home. Christine Roche, 64, had a heart attack at the wheel after being accosted by an off-duty police officer, who lost his temper after she clipped the wing mirror of his car.

The 34-year-old officer is said to have flipped after the minor accident, which happened in thick fog in a suburban street in Hillingdon, West London. The PC got out of his car, leaving his children in the back seat, to remonstrate with Mrs Roche’s 71-year-old husband Patrick, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

Sources said the constable ranted at the pensioner before reaching inside the car to grab the keys from the ignition and storming off. Mrs Roche, who is said to have a pre-existing heart condition and was recovering from a heart operation last week, later collapsed at the wheel. She was treated by paramedics on the pavement but was pronounced dead at the scene at around 4.30pm on Tuesday.

The PC, a licensing officer for the Met’s elite firearms unit C019, was arrested the following day at work on suspicion of manslaughter.

Yesterday the victim’s family would only say that they ‘needed some space’ in order to come to terms with her death. The mother of two had lived in the area for more than a decade with her husband and son Matthew, 28.

Witnesses said she had been driving erratically when the accident happened on a road close to a school, described by locals as a ‘rat-run’ for traffic.

A source said: ‘She was driving erratically and she clipped his wing mirror. ‘He got out of the car and started having a go at her and her husband. ‘Then he reached into their car and took the key out of the ignition. He caused quite a scene and someone said we should call the police but he answered, “I am the police”.’

One local, who owns a shop nearby, said: ‘The couple clipped the policeman’s wing mirror or something like that – just a small prang. ‘He was ranting and raving and then apparently the woman had a heart attack. ‘I suppose she got stressed or something. It is a tragedy. ‘It is so sad. I feel sorry for them all, including the policeman. It’s not what you expect when you clip someone’s wing mirror.’

The policeman is understood to live locally and be married with children. Last night one local said: ‘He is a friend of mine. He lives nearby. He is a quiet family man. ‘I haven’t spoken to him since the incident but he is a very nice man.’

The unnamed PC, who is responsible for approving firearms certificates but is not an operational police marksman, was interviewed at a South London police station and released on bail until mid-December. The officer has now been suspended from duty pending an investigation by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also been informed.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘At approximately 4.30pm on Tuesday, November 16, an altercation occurred in Hillingdon, after which a 64-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. ‘A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been arrested in connection with the inquiry.

‘The 34-year-old, who works in central operations, was arrested on Wednesday, November 17, at his place of work on suspicion of manslaughter, and was taken to a South London police station. He has now been bailed to return in mid-December pending further inquiries.’

Original report here




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