Bouncer at bar says Thornton Heath dad was no threat

Thomas Spicer knocked out Riccardo Holness during an altercation outside My Place bar on Beckenham High Street on October 17, 2021.  

The 42-year-old dad was rushed to King’s College Hospital where he remained on life support with a serious head injury until he died a month later.  

At Riccardo’s inquest on Tuesday (November 5) Mr Spicer declined to answer a number of questions about how and why he punched Riccardo – but he claimed Riccardo had “swung” for his friend, Jack Henderson, just before the punch. 

On Wednesday Mr Henderson said he did not remember Riccardo swinging at him but claimed Mr Spicer’s actions were necessary and proportionate because the deceased was being aggressive. 

Doorman Enio Cardoso, who witnessed the punch, disagreed with this assessment and told the court Riccardo was not posing a threat to anyone. 

Mr Spicer has admitted striking Riccardo but has not faced criminal charges. 

Edmund Gritt, assistant coroner for south London, will give his conclusion as to whether the death was unlawful on Thursday. 

Riccardo Holness (Image: Supplied)

Bouncer’s evidence 

Riccardo’s inquest heard that he was involved in a verbal altercation with Mr Henderson outside My Place bar at around 1am. 

Doorman Enio Cardoso said Riccardo was alone while Mr Henderson was with five to six men who were younger than Riccardo, so he pulled the older man away from the group as a precautionary measure. 

Mr Cardoso said Riccardo then returned to the group and continued to speak to Mr Henderson, at which point Mr Spicer punched him in the face. 

The doorman said Riccardo did not appear to pose a threat to the group and there was no indication that he was about to attack anyone. 

Mr Cardoso said Riccardo was not sober enough to defend himself and that Riccardo was not looking towards Mr Spicer when he came from the side and punched him. 

Describing Mr Spicer’s punch, Mr Cardoso said: “I’ve done martial arts since I was a child. The person who threw that punch didn’t look like it was just a normal person that threw a drunken punch, it looked like it was someone who was trained.” 

He added that the punch was quite forceful and knocked 6ft2 Riccardo off his feet. 

Asked whether Riccardo had “swung” for Mr Henderson before Mr Spicer’s punch, the bouncer explained that the deceased had moved his arm over other people’s heads as if to point at Mr Henderson but he was certain it was not a punch. 

Evidence from a second bouncer present at the bar was read into the record as he failed to attend the inquest. 

In a statement the second bouncer said Mr Spicer had stood over Riccardo and attempted to punch him again whilst he was on the floor – although this has not been supported by other witness accounts. 

The punch took place outside My Place bar in Beckenham (Image: Google)

‘Defending his friend’ 

Mr Henderson gave evidence that his friend Mr Spicer was defending him from Riccardo, who was being aggressive. 

He said his memory was hazy as he was drunk but Riccardo had approached him aggressively outside the bar. 

“I do remember that he was being extremely aggressive. He was in front of me, he was bigger in size than me, he was threatening and offering me round the corner. For anyone there it was apparent that it was just a matter of time before he was going to physically attack me,” Mr Henderson said. 

CCTV appeared to show Mr Henderson push Riccardo several times during this initial altercation. 

When Riccardo returned after being pulled back from the bouncer, Mr Henderson claimed he took an aggressive stance, at which point Mr Spicer hit him. 

Ms Mitchell, the Holness family’s lawyer, put it to Mr Henderson that Riccardo was not the aggressor in the situation and that it was not at all necessary for Mr Spicer to punch him. 

“I strongly disagree,” Mr Henderson said. 

Riccardo Holness with friends (Image: Supplied)

Riccardo Holness 

At the opening of the inquest assistant coroner Mr Gritt read a pen portrait of Riccardo written by his older sister, Ramona Marsh.   

Riccardo was a dad-of-one and lived in Thornton Heath.   

Ramona said: “Riccardo has always been a person who enjoyed the company of others. He enjoyed talking to people from all walks of life.”   

Riccardo was an entrepreneur and Ramona said at the time of his death he had just secured some big contracts and was looking forward to the future as his business was growing.  

Ramona said: “Riccardo was always there for his family and friends, often giving up his time to help others.”   

During the pandemic he regularly delivered groceries to those who were housebound or elderly, she said.   

Ramona said: “He rarely went on a night out as he worked seven days a week and had his dog Rocky to look after.” 

In a statement read at the inquest a friend of 20 years who was with Riccardo on the night he died, but did not see the incident, said: “I can’t imagine Ric starting a fight. He was in a good place. He had just gotten a dog who he adored and he’d just got a new home. 

“I have never seen him in a fight and I would describe Ric as being a people person.” 

The inquest continues.