by Chris Peterson
Malcolm Potier has been sentenced to two years behind bars after being convicted of strangling a woman during a performance of We Will Rock You at the London Coliseum.
The attack happened in June 2023. Kirsty O’Donnell and a friend had been singing along during the Queen musical when Potier’s partner told them to be quiet. O’Donnell responded that the reaction was rude.
Potier reportedly answered, “I’ll show you what rude is,” before grabbing O’Donnell around the neck and applying pressure for several seconds.
A jury found him guilty of non-fatal strangulation in July. On September 10, Judge Dafna Spiro sentenced him to two years in prison and imposed an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting O’Donnell. The judge described the attack as an extreme and completely disproportionate response to a minor disagreement.
And I’m happy to see an actual sentence here.
I’ve certainly got opinions about audience behavior. None of those opinions include putting your hands around another person’s neck.
O’Donnell said the attack left her more conscious of her physical safety and that she pursued the case in part because she wanted young women and girls in her life to see that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. According to the court, Potier was even heard laughing during the trial about his belief that his age would keep him out of prison.
Apparently not.
Potier also came into this case with an extraordinarily disturbing history. He previously served prison sentences in Australia after twice attempting to arrange the murder of a former partner. Judge Spiro pointed to what she described as a continuing pattern of dominance, control, and lack of accountability.
So yes, I’m pleased with this outcome.
Going to the theatre should not require wondering whether the person sitting near you might become violent because you irritated them.