Man admits army veteran's bus stop manslaughter

A man who pushed an 82-year-old army veteran to the ground at a bus stop, causing fatal injuries, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Allen Karam Chand was attacked in Soho Road in Handsworth on 14 January and taken to hospital, but died the following weekend.

Muntahar Ahmed, 44, of no fixed address, grabbed Chand's walking stick before shoving him over, leaving the pensioner with a fractured skull and significant bleed on the brain.

He was initially charged with wounding, which was changed to manslaughter following Chand's death.

Ahmed entered his plea at Birmingham Crown Court, on Monday and is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Police said Ahmed and Chand did not know each other and had made their separate ways to the number 74 bus stop, and within a minute Ahmed became violent.

Chand's family said: "Our father was loving, caring, and never deceived anyone."

"He taught us to respect the law as an ex-army man, and we will always miss him," they added.

Det Sgt Joanne Potter said the "unnecessary act of violence" led to the "tragic death" of Chand.

"It remains unclear what prompted this attack, but it's clear this was not an act of self-defence. There was no need for Ahmed to do what he did, and it has ultimately cost an elderly man his life," she said.

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