A person has been convicted of killing a stranger after he pushed her from a pier into water. Jacob Foster, 29, shoved Charmaine O'Donnell, later claiming it was a "little bit of enjoyable".
The 25-year-old charity employee plunged to her dying at Helensburgh Pier in Argyll and Bute on April 23, 2021. Charmaine handed away resulting from extreme neck accidents and drowning.
Foster was in the present day convicted of culpable murder, following a trial on the Excessive Court docket in Glasgow. The killer - who suffers from a studying incapacity - had been accused of homicide. His legal professionals had lodged a particular defence of diminished duty.
Foster, of Helensburgh, had his bail continued pending sentencing in September. Charmaine, of Glasgow, had gone on a day trip to Helensburgh along with her pal Caitlin McTaggart.
Caitlin, 25, instructed jurors: "I had needed to go the Campsies the place there's a waterfall. She stated 'no' as a result of she would have ended up within the water, principally."
The younger ladies had then swithered about going to Largs in Ayrshire however determined to catch the practice to Helensburgh. They obtained chatting to males fishing on the pier as Foster lurked close by. A gaggle of kids had additionally been leaping into the water to swim.
Caitlin recalled then instantly listening to a "commotion". She stated "any individual" had gone over the railings on the pier. Caitlin didn't initially know who it was, however an individual shouted: "That is your pal."
She then peered over and to her horror discovered Charmaine within the sea. Quite a lot of the children there instantly tried to assist.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC requested Caitlin: "Did you say something to Jacob?" Caitlin replied: "I used to be screaming at him to assist her. He simply stored saying: 'What have I performed? I've taken it too far this time. I'm going away for a very long time'."
Paramedics and police raced to the scene, however Charmaine didn't survive. Stephen Cairns, 42, was one of many males fishing that day. He remembered Foster shoving Charmaine over the sting.
Mr Prentice requested: "So, along with her again to Jacob, who then pushed her with each palms?" Stephen stated: "Sure. It was simply carnage after that."
PC Gary Davidson spoke to Foster on the pier after the incident. The officer instructed jurors: "He stated that it was an accident. He stated: 'I simply pushed her. It was only a little bit of enjoyable'. He stated that he had just a few cans that day.
"I stated to him the very best factor was to remain calm and never say something, however he stated these items time and again." Foster added: "I didn't know that she couldn't swim."
Foster's legal professionals had claimed - due his psychological well being points - he had misunderstood an alleged comment Charmaine made about going into the water. However, in his closing speech, Mr Prentice stated there was "overwhelming" proof Foster pushed Charmaine, insisting it was "deliberate conduct".
Sean Templeton, defending, had requested for Foster to be utterly acquitted stating: "It was a younger man with studying difficulties who obtained it improper."
It emerged after the decision Foster had quite a few earlier convictions together with assaulting a workers member at a Costa espresso store in Helensburgh in 2018.
Mr Prentice instructed the court docket Charmaine had been on furlough on the time from her job as an assistant supervisor at a British Coronary heart Basis store. She was resulting from return every week after she died.
The advocate depute: "It's clear she was a lot cherished and her dying has introduced untold and persevering with grief. She was described as a loving and selfless particular person."
Lord Fairley stated within the "very uncommon circumstances" of the case he would proceed bail and adjourned for studies.
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