LAKE WORTH, Fla. – A South Florida man was arrested Wednesday after he attacked a 62-year-old woman who was picking up cigarettes off the ground outside his home, according to an arrest report.
Kory Richards, 30, of Lake Worth, faces a charge of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm stemming from the March 15 incident.
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According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office report, a witness told deputies that he saw Richards standing over Zhilla Bina, stomping on her head "forcefully and emphatically" six times. The witness said he ran inside his cabin and called 911.
When deputies questioned Richards, he told them that he and Bina had argued two nights earlier about cigarettes. Richards claimed that Bina scratched him in the eye and hit him with her purse, the report said.
Richards told deputies that he grabbed her by the arms in self-defense, put her on the ground and called 911. He said authorities met with them but let them go after they explained the situation.
Deputies said Richards denied attacking Bina, but he was arrested.
After his arrest, Richards changed his story and told deputies that he was upset with Bina because she was picking up cigarettes on his property, the report said. Richards said she scratched him and hit him with her purse when he confronted her, so he punched her in the face and kicked her three times in the arm while she was on the ground, the report said.
Detectives said there were no cuts on Richards' face, eyes or head.
Bina was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. She remained in the intensive care unit Wednesday with a broken nose and hemorrhaging to the brain.