Takeaway owner used curry pot lid and knife to fight off robber, court hears
A takeaway owner used a knife and curry pot lid to fight off a robber, a court heard.
Derek Tang, 44, said he shoved what he thought was a gun out of the road beforehand, jurors were told.
He said he used the items to fend off Allan Fordyce, 54, who allegedly robbed the China Town takeaway, the Daily Record reports.
Fordyce is accused of robbing money from the food shop in Linwood, Renfrewshire, in Scotland, with an "imitation firearm" made of two metal poles and a piece of wood fashioned to look like a shotgun.
He has lodged a special defence of incrimination, claiming the assault and robbery was actually committed by a man named Paul McBeth, who has since died.
Fordyce has also entered a special defence of alibi, claiming it could not have been committed by him as he was within his home in Linwood at the time.
But Tang identified him to police and in court as being the man he claims was responsible for the robbery, which took place at about 11.15pm on June 6, 2020.
Mr Tang told Paisley Sheriff Court: "I heard a big bang at the door, I thought there must be something wrong outside. It was very unusual.
Get latest news headlines delivered free
Want all the latest shocking news and views from all over the world straight into your inbox?
We've got the best royal scoops, crime dramas and breaking stories – all delivered in that Daily Star style you love.
Our great newsletters will give you all you need to know, from hard news to that bit of glamour you need every day. They'll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
You can sign up here – you won't regret it…
"I saw a guy with a big weapon, standing at the takeaway door, inside the kitchen.
"It looked like a gun. It had a double barrel and was wrapped round by a poly bag. It seemed metallic.
"I thought, 'if anything goes wrong, it's very serious'.
"First of all, I shoved the double barrel away and the very next moment he pulled out a knife.
Meghan's birthday tradition for Archie that mum Doria Ragland taught her
"I moved backwards, about a foot away from him.”
He added: “I quickly grabbed my chopper, to defend myself, and a curry pot lid, to use as a shield to defend myself, for my safety.
"He wanted money, he was saying, 'give me your money'. I felt threatened, but at that point, he only wanted money.
"My wife was nearby, in the kitchen, and staff at the other side of the takeaway.
Meghan Markle's fans claim she was 'snubbed' in Prince Charles' 'rude' birthday message
"I thought, 'there's nothing I can do if something goes wrong, it's quite life threatening'."
The court heard he told police at the time: "I knew it wasn't a gun as I could see it was poles."
But he told jurors it looked like a gun from a distance, before he got up close to the robber.
He said he was "quite scared" during the incident, which saw him trying to get the man "out as quickly as" he could.
But he said he could "guarantee" it was not McBeth who had robbed his takeaway on the night in question and that he did not notice a tattoo on the robber's right hand.
The court was also shown a picture of McBeth, who had a yin and yang tattoo on his right hand, lying dead on the floor of his flat in Linwood, with the tattoo visible.
Fordyce denies assaulting Mr Tang, and robbing money from his takeaway.
The trial continues.
Source: Read Full Article