Convictions after brawl at inquest
Three members of a family have been convicted of causing an affray at the inquest of a oneyear old baby.
The jury had heard how a “fast, frightening” punch-up erupted at the hearing at Maidstone.
Chairs and punches were thrown at Archbishop’s Palace in November 2018 and a coroner and usher were shoved aside during the melee.
Now the baby’s father, Tommy Robinson,23; grandfather James Robinson and aunt Abbey Pert, formerly known as Robinson, have been found guilty of affray by a jury at Maidstone Crown Court.
Joe Elkington-Rose, 24, who had been dating the baby’s mother at the time was cleared of affray but found guilty of threatening behaviour.
Shane Ince, 33, of Wayfield Road, Chatham was cleared of affray.
The four will be sentenced next month.
The fracas began when Elkington-Rose was reluctant to give evidence after claiming he had received threats.
As assistant coroner Ian Wade QC went to speak with him to try to persuade him to answer questions at the inquest into the death of Jimmy Robinson, chairs and punches were thrown.
Mr Wade quit the post the next day, but said this had nothing to do with the incident.
The baby’s father Tommy Robinson, 23, of Connaught Road, Chatham; grandfather James Robinson, of North Dane, Chatham; Joe Elkington-Rose, 24, of St Paul’s Close, Strood; Shane Ince, 33, of Wayfield Road, Chatham; and Abbey Pert , 30, of Pretoria Road, Gillingham had all denied affray.
The inquest had been looking into the death Jimmy Robinson, who had died five days before his second birthday in June 2017. There were no arrests and the cause of death could not be ascertained.