06/09/2012

Man Admits Causing Heart Attack Death During Robbery

A 21-year-old has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the pensioner who tried to stop him escaping from the scene of an attempted armed robbery.

Samuel Crawford, 75, died in hospital two days after he suffered a heart attack while trying to stop Darren Valliday-Smyth escaping from a newsagents on Cavendish Street in November 2010.

Valliday-Smyth, from Clonard Place in Belfast, changed his plea today, a week before he was due to go to trial.

He will be sentenced at a later date.

The young man tried to rob McGovern’s newsagents while brandishing a CS gas canister, but was thwarted.

Mr Crawford tried to use his walking stick to stop Valliday-Smyth leaving the scene, but he collapsed and was taken to hospital.

A vigil was held for him in west Belfast after his death.

(NE)

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