Tyren Pollard jailed after attack on Bernard Hirsch caused brain bleed, severely impacting his life until death.
Hirsch’s wife shared her heartbreak in court. Hirsch had mobility issues before the attack and went to the hospital four days later. Scans showed a bleed on his brain.
The injury caused profound disability and contributed to his death at age 43. Pollard, who lived on Newbury Avenue in Sale, was locked up on Friday, March 7th.
Hirsch’s wife, Marzena, wrote a statement that the prosecutor, Michael Brady KC, read aloud. She said her husband was a caring man who lived life fully despite challenges.
He enjoyed walking his dogs and spending time with his friends. They looked forward to the future together. Hirsch was also on a kidney transplant list.
The attack took that away from him, and he needed constant, 24/7 care. His wife had NHS training, without which he would have lived in a hospital.
She remembers him as he was before and doesn’t want to remember the shell of a man he became after the attack. Jurors watched CCTV footage from the petrol station, showing both men had mobility issues.
They arrived on December 11, 2017, and Pollard began shouting at Mr. Hirsch. He filled up his Audi A3 while Hirsch used an assistance pump for his Jaguar.
Pollard approached Hirsch after turning back. Witnesses saw Pollard punch Hirsch and strike him with his walking stick repeatedly. Pollard then went inside and paid at the kiosk.
He told the cashier about Hirsch, saying Hirsch didn’t need pump six and that nothing was wrong with him. Staff then checked on Hirsch.
Hirsch had a cut lip and seemed dazed and stunned afterwards. He returned home but didn’t tell his wife about the attack.
Days later, he had severe headaches and started vomiting. He collapsed and went to the hospital where scans revealed a brain bleed.
He spent nine months in the hospital and was finally discharged in August 2018. He was in a coma at one point and had carers. He was readmitted with suspected Covid on March 20, 2020.
He died eight days later. The post-mortem listed “Covid-19” as the cause, but the head injury also contributed to his death.
Detective Sergeant Kirsty Wroe spoke after the hearing, emphasizing that Pollard’s attack caused a brain bleed that reduced Hirsch’s quality of life until death. She added his actions left a family grieving, who have been incredibly strong.
Pollard is now in jail. Wroe hopes Hirsch’s family finds closure and can now rebuild their lives after his passing.