Judge says ‘oi’ after defendant’s graphic four-letter suggestion

A judge told a defendant to "stop it" after his graphic four-letter outburst. Girushothman Thangathura left his own mother requiring surgery after the savage unprovoked attack inside the family home. He later fled Merseyside for the south coast, fearing he was being "spied on".

Liverpool Crown Court[1] heard today, Friday, that the 26-year-old had been living at home with his parents in summer last year, but they became "concerned about his mental health". Kevin Liston, prosecuting, described how, on June 15, Thangathura's mum and dad had been "encouraging him to find employment" and "do something productive". His dad had initially spoken to him in his bedroom, hoping to persuade him to join them on a holiday to India.

After this, his mum attempted to chat with him alone in his room. But Thangathura, of Prescot[3] Road in Old Swan[4], responded by standing up from his bed, grabbing her arm and twisting it up behind her back. He then pushed her onto the bed and repeatedly punched and kicked her around 15 to 20 times.

His father then heard her shouts for help from downstairs and pulled his son away from his wife. But Thangathura then began attacking him instead, punching him in the face as he "begged him to stop". He eventually left the address and began shouting in the street, saying: "Bring me a knife.

Stab me, stab me." Police subsequently attended the scene and detained Thangathura, who replied "I did break her hand or whatever". Under interview, he told detectives the assault had been an "accident".

His mother was taken to hospital following the incident and had to undergo an operation after suffering a fractured and displaced elbow. She was discharged on June 18 and has since made a full recovery, with his dad having sustained bruises to the face and arms and a facial cut. Thangathura initially pleaded not guilty to the charges he faced and had been due to stand trial, but he failed to attend court on this date.

However, he was later arrested again on a warrant and subsequently admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and breaching court bail. Robert Wyn Jones, defending, told the court: "Mr Thangathura has very strong feeling towards his family. They are feelings of frustration.

"He feels he has been very much controlled by them, which he has found frustrating. He regrets the way he reacted. "He now believes he would be able to control himself much better than he did.

He now is equipped to better handle these sorts of relationships, although he doesn't intend to have anything to do with his parents in the future." Mr Wyn Jones added of his client's previous failure to appear in court: "The reason he left this area of the country is that he felt there were people in the community who were sent to spy on him when he was in the hostel. That is why he went to the south coast.

"He effectively gave himself up and approached a police officer and said he was wanted. There is something going on in the background with him, with his unusually strong feelings. "It is a sad case.

He has lost everything. "He has described this last year as a disaster. He found himself on and off homeless on the south coast."

Thangathura has no previous convictions. Sentencing, Recorder Mark Ainsworth said: "There plainly was a great deal of concern and frustration in your relationship with your parents. "To be fair, it is clear that came from both sides.

They had concerns about your mental health. "I can understand their concerns. You had concerns about their attitude towards you, I appreciate that.

"Matters came to a head. When you were in your room alone with your mother, you attacked her in what can only be described as a persistent assault. "Your father heard his wife screaming for help.

He rushed upstairs and tried to intervene, then you attacked him - he was begging you to stop. "You are a man of previous good character. The events of June 15 can truly be said to be out of character as far as you are concerned.

"I understand now that you have effectively disengaged or separated from your family and propose to live elsewhere. Nevertheless, I am sure that the concerns of your parents continue. "I have my concerns for the future, as to what may happen.

On any view, it was a persistent assault. "It carried on for a significant period of time, when you inflicted a number of blows upon her. It only came to an end when your father intervened."

Thangathurai shook his head as he was told he was being locked up for 29 months. This prompted Recorder Ainsworth to remark: "You can shake your head, but it's not going to change the outcome." But he responded: "You've got this entirely wrong.

You're going to regret it. "You watch. Everyone, including them, decided to set me up."

Thangathura was then removed from the dock, but said "f*** you" as he was led to the cells. The judge then ordered him back into court, at which point he continued his rant by saying: "Tell them to go and f*** themselves. "Go and suck a d***.

They know what they've done." Recorder Ainsworth then said "oi, stop it", but Thangathura added: "He never mentioned I was sexually harassed. Why are you hiding it?

"You're in trouble, all of you. I don't need you. "You watch.

Just watch." Thangathura was told to return to the cells and that he would be brought back into the dock later in the day in order to apologise. However, he refused to do so, with Mr Wyn Jones saying: "I suspect it may not be in his best interests to be brought into court.

"He won't apologise. He may say something he regrets." Thangathura will now appear again on January 2, this being the next date that the crown court is due to sit after Christmas.

Recorder Ainsworth said: "It is very rare to see quite the level of abuse we witnessed this morning. "It seems to me that an apology still will be welcomed by the court and will carry a great deal. He can be brought back and given that opportunity - if not, I will have to instigate contempt proceedings."

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References

1. ^ Liverpool Crown Court (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ Judge sends message to Brianna Ghey's killers ahead of sentencing (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
3. ^ Prescot (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
4. ^ Old Swan (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
5. ^ Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)