The man who bought an island, hired hitmen and throttled a theatregoer
Malcolm Potier, a 75-year-old former millionaire, has been jailed for two years after strangling a theatregoer during a performance in London. The attack occurred after a dispute over the victim singing along to the music, revealing a history of violent behavior by the perpetrator.
Why it matters
The incident highlights issues regarding public safety and audience conduct in high-profile entertainment venues.
Image source, Facebook Image caption, Malcolm Potier's dark past was unknown to the woman he strangled at the theatre
Theatre-lover Kirsty O'Donnell was a regular visitor to the West End to enjoy musicals and plays.
But her life took a dramatic and frightening turn during a performance of Queen musical We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum.
She was throttled by the stranger sitting next to her – a disgraced ex-millionaire who had twice tried to have his former partner murdered.
Malcolm Potier launched his violent attack on 51-year-old O'Donnell as she was singing along to Queen hits on 7 June 2023.
Potier, 75, from Sarratt in Hertfordshire, was found guilty of non-fatal strangulation at Southwark Crown Court in July and jailed for two years on Thursday .
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in