Man jailed for fatal chair throw at chip shop

A man who caused fatal injuries to another man by throwing a metal chair at his head during an argument has been jailed.

Rashko Kurtev, 32, threw a chair at Rodney Macleod outside the Seabells Fish and Chip shop in Birchington, Kent, on 9 March.

The chair hit Mr Macleod in the head, inflicting serious injuries which caused his death in hospital on 15 April.

At Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, Kurtev was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after admitting to a charge of manslaughter.

Witnesses to the assault said Mr Macleod and staff from the restaurant in Station Road had got into an argument.

Kurtev, who was a worker at the restaurant, came outside during the argument and threw some of the victim's belongings at him, Kent Police said.

He then threw two metal chairs at Mr Macleod, the second of which hit him in the side of his head.

Kurtev, of Park Avenue, Birchington, was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent after Mr Macleod was taken to hospital with serious injuries

However, Mr Macleod did not recover from his injuries and died in hospital. A post-mortem examination listed his traumatic brain injury among the causes of his death.

Det Insp Colin McKeen said the case showed “catastrophic consequences of people turning to violence during disagreements”.

“One man has lost his life and another is in jail following an argument which this offender could just have walked away from. The use of a metal chair as a weapon was completely unnecessary,” he said.

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