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A man bled to death in the street early today after being speared with shattered glass from the window of a West End store.
Police are investigating reports that the 30-year-old was injured after he threw a female friend against the plate glass window of clothes chain Banana Republic on the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Regent Street.
It is believed that the pair were having an argument. The window shattered and the man was cut by shards of glass.
He is believed to have suffered injuries to an artery and bled to death. Paramedics arrived on the scene but were unable to save him.
The woman, 30, also suffered cuts and was taken to a central London hospital. Her injuries are thought not to be life threatening. Police today appealed for witnesses.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said shortly before 2.15 this morning officers on patrol were alerted by a member of the public to a row in Great Marlborough Street.
They arrived to find the man on the other side of the shop window while a woman was standing nearby suffering from cuts.
An ambulance arrived but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say they know the identity of the victim but are trying to contact his next of kin before releasing his name.
Officers were interviewing the woman in detail this morning about the circumstances.
Some passers-by have already believed to have spoken to police about what happened.
The couple, who police said knew each other, were believed to be homeless.
There have been no arrests so far and police are treating the death as not suspicious.
The man is expected to be formally identified today. A post mortem examination will also be carried out later today.
Scotland Yard have asked anyone who saw the incident to call Westminster police on 020 7321 7434 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Reader views (26)
Firstly thank you to you respectful people. Can I make you all aware that the family do hear and read what some people say about a situation they know nothing about I am family and even I do not know the full story however I do have more of an idea than a lot of you people that think you can judge someone based on a news report some of you are very heartless you have not seen and spoke to his parents and you know nothing about him or the girl he supposedly threw against the window or the witnesses I however know a little more than you how about you try and have some respect before you comment think about it if this was your son would you like to see this news report and people that know nothing of the events that took place making such heartless comments and do you have any idea what it is like to lose a child I personally don’t but I know it is a terrible thing to have to deal with and something a parent will nether get over I hope I nether find out what it feels like and I would not wish it on anyone else.
- N Surrey, Guildford, England
jennifer i get what ur saying but money means nothing to a family who have lost their son, their brother their friend and their uncle etc money will not bring him back! to everyone else how small minded you are to judge you know nothing about the accident what it was about or any major details you only know their was a fight this man died he lost his lie to say he deserved it must be heart wrenching for his por family to have to read may nothing like this ever happen to you. Im sure she was not completly innocent in this. before making judgements everyone please remember the family members that will be grieving and that every stor has 2 sides
- Anon, gford
At the end of the day i think every one should still respect the family in this time of need and not to point the finger about who's to blame cause only those there will no the real reason to why this sad thing happened maybe he shouldnt of thrown the poor girl agaisnt the window but maybe no one deserved to lose their live at the same time my thoughts are with the family at this sad time.
- R. Surrey, surrey
Well thats one daft trick he wont do again.All shop windows are a special plate glass but if he was idiot enough to throw the woman against it!!!!!!!!!!!!
- V Birchall, selby
I'm a little confused - the story reports someone being thrown against the glass and it breaking but the picture seems to show a car inside the shop - was this there before or is this related to how the glass broke?
- Andy, london
You're all being very harsh.
- Mike, Nuneaton
Oh, for goodness sake. No, there will be no "HSE visit". It is a building. It has windows. It has shopfronts that have large areas of glazing. Yes there are different types of safety glass and for the most part they will resist the impact of a small child, a woman being thrown into it and in some cases a sustained hammer attack. But there are many factors in play when you have large shop front windows. Conceivably these could be the original windows. It could be a Grade I or Grade II* listed building and one is limited on what you can put in when replacement is needed or desired.
Kerry Trubee, do you want to go halves on developing sponge bumpers and other components? It seems there may be a number of Jennifers out there...we could make a mint.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County
Jennifer, I am sure the contractors that fitted the shop followed the building regulation for plate glass. The shop is likely in a lease with the owners of tjhe building and it would be the landlords responsibility.
This does reduce the risk but does NOT rule out the chances of being hurt (or even killed).
It is unfortunately the man cannot be brought to justice, but (as the glass is up to spec) the woman was saved.
Also, with the economy being in recession, there are more scams going on. I recently heard of a man that is being sued by another driver for whiplash, even though the accused was stationary and parked up.
- P.Helix, London
If what is said is true (that he threw a woman against the window), then he truly got what he deserved.
- Nowan King, London
The lesson here must be not to throw people into shop windows, or anywhere else for that matter.
- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England.
Jennifer - please seek help.
- Ted, London
What planet are you on jennifer? had the violent thug not tried to throw his girlfriend through the window, it wouldn't have happened. "Hoist on his own petard" methinks?
You seem to suggest that if you were to throw yourself in front of my car, it would be my fault for A. being there and B not having a sponge bumper. foolish woman.
- Kerry Trubee, purley
I think the HSE will be paying a visit as there are H&S legislations conncerning glazing in the workplace. Hope the young lady recovers well.
- David, London, England
Jennifer you are an example of what's wrong with our country today. Your remarks exemplify the lack of intellect you possess.
- Albert Hall, kettering
Indeed, the store will be prosecuted for corproate manslaughter. Innocent passers-by could have been killed if they stumbled against the glass.
No sympathy for the victim though.
- Gerry , Glasgow, Glasgow
There is a God after all,serves him right.
But no doudt 'friends' will start to say he was a lovable rogue who was misunderstood and did not intend to hurt the girl.
- Richard, London
Yes Jennifer I agree.
I also think the families of people who throw themselves in front of tube trains should sue TFL for not making them out of foam rubber. Families of suicide victims should sue the council for not putting trampolines under Beachy Head and we should all sue you for having a very small brain indeed.
- Barry Chapman, Welwyn England
Jennifer...you're a dope. Are you or anyone else in your family one of those ambulance chasing lawyers?
- Kris, Worcester
I agree with you Jennifer, what is this country coming to when I can't even beat up a woman then throw her into a window without risking getting hurt? Its outrageous to thugs everywhere. Where theres blame (even when the blame is your own) there a claim.
- Smudge, Bicester, Oxfordshire
ahahaha the families should get compensation thats the biggest joke i've ever heard, some guy throws a woman against a window, what a shame he came off the worse, im sure if it had been a tougher window she would have been the worse, one less idiot on the planet, no loss! XD XD
- Rob, Peterborough
Whilst I agree with some comments against Jennifer here regarding the compensation culture, I do feel that a shop should be responsible for having safety glass especially in such a busy street. At the end of the day would Mark & Nicola be saying the same if, for example, they were walking along with a respective partner or child who tripped and accidently landed on this glass and went straight through the glass causes serious injury or death?
- Jl, London
Jennifer, all I can do is shake my head in despair at the kind of world you must inhabit.
Maybe you also think the family of the man, and his victim, should sue the various breweries and spirits makers, if it is found that alcohol had a major role to play in their behaviour leading up to this incident.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County
No one deserved to die, but then again, if you throw someone else through a