The former vice-chairman of Tottenham Hotspur broke a man’s nose as they queued for croissants in Harrods, a court has heard.
David Buchler is accused of getting into an argument with Rosaria Birrane after pushing into the queue in the west London shop, before elbowing her husband James in the face.
Buchler, 64, says Rosaria Birrane, 54, racially abused him during the incident on New Year’s Eve last year and that he acted in self-defence.
Isleworth crown court heard on Monday that there was “bedlam” in the store’s bakery when Buchler, who had gone to buy himself a pastry, went to the front of the line.
“[Rosaria] Birrane says he pushed in front of her and told her to fuck off,” the prosecutor Tim Naik said. “[James] Birrane told Buchler not to talk to his wife like that. He moved forward to protect her, he was then struck by the defendant to the nose.”
James Birrane, who is 57, was taken to hospital for treatment to his broken nose, the court heard.
“I stepped towards [my wife] to say let’s go and I was punched completely out of the blue, unprovoked,” he told the court.
“The first I knew was a crunching, smashing in my face, I didn’t see where it came from. My wife put herself in between us as he was coming for me again.”
It was claimed that Buchler was called a “dirty Jew” and that James Birrane was “clawing” at his eyes during the scuffle. James Birrane denies doing so.
Buchler said he had acted in self-defence because James Birrane was bigger than him.
According to Rosaria Birrane, he had been rude to the staff, swearing at them and telling them to be quick because he was in a hurry. She said he also swore at her.
“I want justice for my husband,’ she told the court. “With one single punch [Buchler] has ruined a man’s life. He smashed my husband’s nose to the point where the specialist said nothing can be done, you have to live with it.”
Buchler denies assault causing actual bodily harm. The trial continues.
