Tube pusher did not intend to kill man, court told

Brwa Shorsh denies attempted murder after Tadeusz Potoczek was pushed off a platform at Oxford Circus Tube station

A homeless man who pushed a postman in front of an oncoming Tube train did not intend to kill him, a jury has heard.

Brwa Shorsh, 24, denies attempted murder after Tadeusz Potoczek, 61, was shoved off the southbound Victoria line platform at Oxford Circus station on 3 February.

Mr Potoczek narrowly missed touching the live rail, Inner London Crown Court heard.

Mr Shorsh said he was "angry" with Mr Potoczek because he felt the victim had given him a dirty look. The defendant said he was "sorry for what happened" but he had not wanted to kill Mr Potoczek.

'Revenge'

Mr Shorsh also denies an alternative count of attempted grievous bodily harm.

Giving evidence through a Kurdish interpreter at his trial, Mr Shorsh said he was "angry" after three women allegedly laughed at him for being homeless and he felt Mr Potoczek had been "very disrespectful" to him.

He said he did not know a train was coming.

Prosecutor Sam Barker told him: "You pushed a man in front of a train for looking at you. Do you think that was an appropriate reaction?"

Mr Shorsh replied: "I was double angry reaction, (starting from) the women and when he came and passed I became angry - so the two are related."

He added: "I agree. It was scary what I did."

On whether Mr Potoczek deserved this treatment, Mr Shorsh said: "No, I can't say it was right."

Mr Shorsh later told the court: "I am sorry for what happened. I did not intend to kill him and I am not a murderer."

He told the court that in that split second, "I wanted revenge".

Mr Shorsh had been sleeping rough in England, including inside Tube stations to keep warm, since 2020, the court heard.

Mr Potoczek has said he did not say anything to Mr Shorsh at any time.

Stating Mr Potoczek had walked past and was looking straight ahead, Mr Barker described the incident as "a random piece of violence" against a man who "had done absolutely nothing wrong".

The trial continues.