Grimsby couple jailed for attack which left homeless man dead

A married couple from Grimsby have been jailed for the manslaughter of a homeless man.

Yesterday, Marc Finnie (44 ) and his wife Sarah Finnie (36) were found guilty of the manslaughter of Anthony Richardson (45) on 16 January 2018 at Old Market Place, Grimsby.

Marc Finnie will serve 8 years in prison while Sarah will serve 7.

Anthony Richardson was a homeless man who had problems with drug and alcohol. Sarah Finnie had known the victim for ten years. She was employed as a security guard at the Freshney Place shopping centre in Grimsby and Mr Richardson had a habit of taunting and verbally abusing the security staff, especially Sarah Finnie. At the time of the incident he had been banned from the shopping centre for his misbehaviour.

On 16 January, Anthony Richardson had been ejected from the shopping centre a number of times, and had as usual, directed some of his abuse at Sarah Finnie, who rang her husband Marc Finnie. Using the shopping centre’s extensive network of TV cameras, she guided her husband to Anthony Richardson.

Marc Finnie then perpetrated a brief but ferocious attack on his defenceless victim, kneeing him in the face with such force his head bounced off a plate glass window, following up with two further savage blows of the fist to his head, which smashed his head against the pavement. The attack caused serious internal head injuries and he died the following morning in hospital.

Nicola Trory from the CPS said:

“This was an act of brutal retribution exacted on a defenceless man. Marc Finney was encouraged and guided by his wife Sarah who ensured not just that he was able to locate Anthony, but also that the relevant security cameras were trained away from the scene of the incident.

“The members of the jury have today found both Marc and Sarah Finnie guilty of manslaughter, and I hope that this is of some comfort to Anthony’s friends and family."