Drug-user tried to kill pensioner in Tube push
Paul Crossley randomly shoved Sir Robert Malpas, a former Eurotunnel boss, onto the tracks in April
A FORMER Eurotunnel boss broke down in court as the man who pushed him on to a tube track was found guilty of attempted murder yesterday.
Sir Robert Malpas, 91, was left sprawled in the pit below the tracks at Marble Arch Underground station in April this year after Paul Crossley, 46, shoved him from behind.
Police yesterday released CCTV of the moment Sir Robert, who was knighted by the Queen in 1988, fell head-first on to the tracks.
He was rescued by a fellow passenger, Riyad El Hussani, who burnt his hand on the live rails whilst pulling Sir Robert on to the platform.
Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the Recorder of London, praised the “extraordinary bravery” of Mr El Hussani, a French national, for his actions.
Sir Robert, who lives in south London with his wife, Lady Malpas, was left with a fractured pelvis and 12 stitches on his head.
Earlier, Crossley had attempted to push another man, Tobias French, on to the tracks at Tottenham Court Road station seconds before a train arrived.
But Mr French was able to maintain his balance due to his background as a professional sportsman, the court heard.
Crossley was found guilty yesterday on two counts of attempted murder at the Old Bailey.
The footage from the day showed Sir Robert, who had been to a pensioners’ lunch in central London, walking along the platform wearing a brown Burberry raincoat, suit and tie, and carrying an umbrella.
Describing the moment Crossley then pushed him on to the tracks, Sir Robert said: “I felt myself flying over the tracks and landing on the rails. I may have been concussed but only for a very short time. I banged my head on the rails.”
Mr El Hussani, a French teacher, said he heard “screams and shouting” before running towards Sir Robert, who lay covered in blood.
He told the court: “I was scared that when I was on the tracks I could have
‘I felt myself flying over the tracks and landing on the rails. I may have been concussed’
been electrocuted and also could have then been hit by a train.”
The judge said: “Mr El Hussani showed extraordinary bravery with complete disregard for his own safety in saving Sir Robert and he is obviously to be commended for that.”
The judge postponed sentencing for a psychiatric report.
Crossley, who was living in a homeless hostel in east London, told jurors that his victims were chosen at random but claimed he had not intended to kill them. He also admitted he had taken crack cocaine the day before.
After his attack on Sir Malpas, Crossley was chased and detained by members of the public, telling them: “It’s not right. I know it’s wrong.”
Crossley, of Leyton, east London, was remanded in custody and will appear via video link at the same court on Nov 9.