Homeless Shoplifter Killed

A SECURITY guard has been found guilty of punching a shoplifter, causing him to fall and suffer from fatal head injuries leading to his death, reports the Reading Chronicle.

Sabeur Trabelsi, 44, of King’s Road, Reading, was found guilty of manslaughter at Reading Crown Court following a trial of delivering a ‘fatal blow’ to Jason Page, 52, on March 31, 2021. Mr Page, who was homeless at the time of his death, had stolen about £300 of meat from the Marks and Spencers store in Chalfont Way, Lower Earley, when he was chased from the store by Trabelsi.

Following an altercation outside the BP petrol station, Trabelsi punched Mr Page causing him to fall and hit his head. He sadly died the following evening after suffering from ‘unsurvivable’ injuries.

As the unanimous verdict was delivered after six hours and 52 minutes of deliberation, Trabelsi looked solemn. Trabelsi was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by informing the ambulance crews and police that Mr Page had fallen where he had gone to run away from him.

Store duty manager Elliott Cripps, 27, of Ashbourne Crescent, Taunton, was also on trial after being charged with perverting the course of justice. However, he was found not guilty unanimously by the jury. As the results were read out, he looked nervous while in the dock, wearing a light grey suit. He held his hands to his face with relief and started crying.

The case has now been adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before Trabelsi can be sentenced. It is scheduled to take place at the same court on June 12.