Man admits pushing dad to his death after bus row

Sep 4 2008 by Hilary Clixby, The Journal

A MAN admitted pushing a father-of-three to his death from a bus after he asked passengers to stop swearing.

Retired motor mechanic and truck driver Stanley Dixon decided to get off the number 243 early because of a row between two men and a woman at the back of the vehicle.

But as he was about to alight, Gary Robson pushed him off the bus. Mr Dixon, 60, later died of the severe head injuries he suffered.

Robson, 23, of Galloway Road, Peterlee, had been accused of murder, but the charge was quashed when he admitted a lesser alternative count of manslaughter.

Mr Dixon’s partner Anne Fisher was with him as he suffered the fatal injuries. Robson was accused of assaulting her during the incident, but that charge was also quashed.

Ms Fisher, 41, was in the public gallery at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday when Robson entered his pleas.

She wept on hearing the prosecution, having reviewed the case, would not be proceeding on either the murder or common assault charge .

In a statement after the hearing, Ms Fisher said: “We were due to marry in September next year.

“Me and my daughter’s lives have been ruined. I don’t know how we will move on from here.”

Ms Fisher, a home help, paid tribute to Mr Dixon after his death, describing him as a man who never had a bad word to say about anyone and was well-liked by all.

She said: “We shared many good times in the five years we were together.”

Ms Fisher and Mr Dixon, who was divorced with three grown-up children, had been on the 243 Arriva service from Hartlepool to Horden near Peterlee in June this year when the tragedy happened.

Police said at the time there had been an argument between two males and a female at the back of the bus and Mr Dixon had asked them to calm down and stop swearing.

Mr Dixon and Ms Fisher then decided to get off the bus a stop earlier than they intended due to the argument.

But as they prepared to alight outside Beech Terrace, Horden, Mr Dixon was pushed from the bus, suffering severe head injuries when he landed on the pavement.

The 60-year-old, of Eden Vale, Horden, died in Newcastle General Hospital four days after the attack.

Robson, 23, of Galloway Road, Peterlee, was further remanded in custody after sentence was adjourned until October 17.

He was warned by Judge David Hodson: “You must appreciate for an offence of this nature, all sentencing options will be open to me when I deal with you, and that of course includes a sentence of custody.”

The case was not opened and the basis of Robson’s plea to the manslaughter charge was not given, but Richard Bloomfield, defending, said Robson had not meant to hurt Mr Dixon.

He said: “It was not the defendant’s intention in what he did to cause any injury at all.”