Francois Joseph Ghassibe claims self-defence in manslaughter of pensioner Brian Richardson, who died after ‘road rage incident’

Brian Richardson died as a result of a knee to the head – but the martial artist who allegedly struck him in a road rage attack says he had to defend himself from the pensioner.

A trained martial artist fatally kneed another man, who was 40 years older than him, in the head because he feared for his own life, a court has heard.

Francois Joseph Ghassibe told SA Police he was also frightened Brian Richardson’s friends would attack him – but a court has heard two of those people have dementia.

On Monday, Mr Ghassibe, 30, of Mansfield Park, asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court to grant him home detention bail on one count of manslaughter.

The charge arises from the death of Mr Richardson, 70, almost two weeks after he was repeatedly punched and kicked on West Terrace last month.

Sergeant Trent Matijevic, prosecuting, said police had compiled CCTV footage of the incident from several sources, including the taxi in which Mr Ghassibe was a passenger.

“This was a road rage type of incident … there was a dispute, as to right of way, between the taxi driver and Mr Richardson,” he said.

“Mr Richardson walked over to the driver’s side of the taxi, the driver got out, there was pushing and shoving, and Mr Ghassibe got between them.

“There was then a fight … Mr Ghassibe threw a flurry of punches at Mr Richardson’s head and he cowered and tried to cover his head.

Brian Richardson was kneed in the head during a road rage incident on West Terrace in Adelaide, a court has been told. Picture: Supplied

“He appears, on the footage, to drop something on the roadway and, as he bends down to pick it up, Mr Ghassibe knees or kicks him to the face with his right leg.”

Sgt Matijevic said Mr Ghassibe left the scene in the taxi, telling the driver “it’s okay, we will go back to the hood, he hit you and I f***ed him up’.

“Upon his arrest, he told police he had a background in martial arts and felt what he did was reasonable in the circumstances,” Sgt Matijevic said.

“He said he feared for himself and for the driver because Mr Richardson was ‘verbally aggressive’ and ‘had a lot of guys’ in his car.

“Mr Richardson had been travelling with his wife, as well as his brother and sister-in-law – both of whom suffer from dementia.

“We say Mr Ghassibe took it too far and what he did was not reasonable … the fight finished when Mr Richardson started backing away.

“Kicking someone in the head is not self-defence.”

Sarah Willis, for Mr Ghassibe, said his client was a good candidate for bail with a supportive family, children to care for and a father willing to provide a cash surety.

Magistrate Simon Smart ordered a home detention bail report and remanded Mr Ghassibe – whose image is suppressed pending witness interviews – in custody until next week.