Dad who died after Beckenham punch was unlawfully killed

Riccardo Holness, 42, spent a month on life support after he was punched by Thomas Spicer outside a bar in Beckenham three years ago. 

Riccardo had been involved in a brief verbal altercation with Mr Spicer’s friend, Jack Henderson, but this was the first instance of serious violence.

Mr Spicer accepts he hit Riccardo has not faced criminal charges as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it could only bring a prosecution when there was a “realistic prospect” of securing a conviction.   

On Thursday, Edmund Gritt, assistant coroner for south London, said: “Riccardo died in King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill on November 12, 2021, from catastrophic injuries to the head and neck sustained when he was involved a drunken altercation outside a bar in Beckenham High Street. 

“In the course of which he was punched once to the head without warning from the side, and with the full force causing him to fall to the ground where he struck his head.” 

Mr Gritt has decided as fact that Mr Spicer ran several metres from his starting position to deliver an explosive punch. 

He said Riccardo did not see Mr Spicer’s approach or have any opportunity to defend himself or move back. 

Mr Gritt said regardless of whether Mr Spicer acted in retribution/anger or because he believed it was necessary to defending Mr Henderson, the level of force used was such that it was unlawful. 

As is customary when a coroner records a verdict of unlawful killing, the case will now be referred to the CPS who will consider whether there is new evidence or information from the inquest which could change their decision not to bring criminal charges. 

Riccardo’s older sister, Ramona Marsh, said the coroner’s decision feels like the first step towards getting justice for her brother. 

Riccardo pictured with his sister, Ramona Marsh (Image: Supplied)

Mr Spicer gave evidence at Riccardo’s inquest but declined to answer a series of questions about what happened and why - after being warned that he did not have to answer questions which might incriminate himself. 

However, he did claim Riccardo had “swung” for his friend Mr Henderson just before the fatal punch. 

Mr Henderson, who also gave evidence at the inquest, said he did not remember if Riccardo “swung” but claimed that Mr Spicer had been defending him. 

Mr Henderson said: “I do remember that [Riccardo] was being extremely aggressive. He was in front of me, he was bigger in size than me, he was threatening and offering me round the corner. For anyone there it was apparent that it was just a matter of time before he was going to physically attack me.” 

Mr Gritt said Mr Henderson’s evidence was of limited reliability because of his drunkenness. 

The punch took place outside My Place bar in Beckenham (Image: Google)

Doorman Enio Cardoso, who witnessed the punch, gave evidence at the inquest which disagreed with Mr Henderson’s account. 

Seconds before the punch Mr Cardoso pulled Riccardo away from Mr Spicer’s group as a precaution. 

When Riccardo returned to the group Mr Cardoso said he did not appear to pose a threat to the group and there was no indication that he was about to attack anyone.  

Mr Cardoso said Riccardo was not sober enough to defend himself and that Riccardo was not looking towards Mr Spicer when he came from the side and punched him.  

Mr Gritt said he found Mr Cardoso to be a reliable, truthful and consistent witness. 

“I find that Riccardo was significantly affected by alcohol and made some form of swinging or grabbing motion but which was not a serious escalation in violence compared to the previous pushing but rather a continuation of it,” Mr Gritt said. 

Riccardo Holness was an entrepreneur who was father to one daughter (Image: Supplied)

Describing Mr Spicer’s punch, Mr Cardoso said: “I’ve done martial arts since I was a child. The person who threw that punch didn’t look like it was just a normal person that threw a drunken punch, it looked like it was someone who was trained.”  

He added that the punch was quite forceful and knocked 6ft2 Riccardo off his feet.  

Asked whether Riccardo had “swung” for Mr Henderson before Mr Spicer’s punch, the bouncer explained that the deceased had moved his arm over other people’s heads as if to point at Mr Henderson, but he was certain it was not a punch. 

Riccardo Holness with friends (Image: Supplied)

A friend who was with Riccardo that night, but did not witness the incident, said they were having a good time and the atmosphere was good. 

He said: “I can’t imagine Rick starting a fight. He was in a good place. He had just gotten a dog who he adored and he’d just got a new home.  

“I have never seen him in a fight and I would describe Rick as being a people person.”