A court has heard how a Bromley woman gave her trolley a “forceful push” before it slammed into a widower who later died.

Melanie Buck, 33, is accused of manslaughter and GBH after 60-year-old Michael Buckley died following an “altercation” in the intu Bromley shopping centre, then The Glades, on December 22, 2013.

He suffered a broken leg and wrist in the incident in Marks and Spencer, but his condition worsened and he died in hospital on March 5 last year.

Today (April 8) witness Carim Salam told the jury at Croydon Crown Court: “If I can remember the lady [Buck] said ‘excuse me’.

“His basket seemed to be catching on her trolley. He seemed to be trying to pull his basket free and I think the lady was trying to move forward. I don’t know if it was on purpose or people behind were pushing forward.

“The lady pushed towards him, then she retracted her arms and gave a big forceful push.

"I saw her arms go and push the trolley forward.

“From my perspective she wasn’t trying to get past, she was pushing into him.

“That’s what was so shocking.”

He said Buck then appeared to go to the aid of Mr Buckley but was blocked by staff.

MORE TOP STORIES Fellow witness Janice Henson told the court: “It [M&S] was really packed I’ve never seen it so busy before. I was stationary.

“She [Buck] said something to him, she was knocking into his basket but it wasn’t deliberate I’m sure.

“He said something and she said something along the lines of ‘I’m sorry, it’s the people behind me’. I couldn’t hear what he said, he had a very soft voice.

“Then the lady pulled her trolley back and she pushed it forward.

“She pushed it hard forwards and that’s when it struck the old man.

“It didn’t seem like great force but he was very frail.

“I was just shocked. It all seemed in slow motion, he staggered before he fell, he staggered backwards.

“He twisted and fell on his side.

“There wasn’t really enough room to get round him.”

She added staff were stacking food from crates in the aisle, which further narrowed the space.

Buck, of Chelford Road, denies the charges.

The trial continues.