A guy was found guilty of pushing a stranger over a pier and into the water, killing her, and then saying “it was just a little fun.”
On April 23 of last year, Jacob Foster, 29, shoved Charmaine O’Donnell, a volunteer, off Helensburgh Pier in Argyll and Bute.
Glasgow resident Charmaine, 25, drowned after suffering critical neck injuries.
Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Foster, a man with a learning impairment, was today found guilty of culpable homicide, which is when someone kills someone by behaving illegally but not with the intent to murder.
Next month, he will receive a sentence.
A guy was found guilty of pushing a stranger over a pier and into the water, killing her, and then saying “it was just a little fun.”
On April 23 of last year, Jacob Foster, 29, shoved Charmaine O’Donnell, a volunteer, off Helensburgh Pier in Argyll and Bute.
Glasgow resident Charmaine, 25, drowned after suffering critical neck injuries.
Following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Foster, a man with a learning impairment, was today found guilty of culpable homicide, which is when someone kills someone by behaving illegally but not with the intent to murder.
Next month, he will receive a sentence.
The pair had thought about travelling to Largs, Ayrshire, but decided to instead catch the train to Helensburgh.
When the two arrived, they started talking with some men who were fishing at the pier as Foster waited nearby.
At that moment, a bunch of children were diving into the sea to learn to swim.
Caitlin described to the court how she heard a “commotion” out of the blue because someone had climbed over the pier rails.
She was first unaware of who it was until she overheard someone exclaim, “That’s your friend.”
When she turned to look, she was horrified to see Charmaine in the water.
The kids in the area made attempts to save her, according to the testimony given in court.
Upon being questioned about whether she had spoken to the defendant, Caitlin replied, “I was screaming at him to assist her.” He kept repeating: “What did I do? This time, I’ve gone too far. I will be gone for a while “‘
Charmaine passed away shortly after police and paramedics arrived at the site.
One of the men fishing on the pier at the time of the tragedy was 42-year-old Stephen Cairns.
He testified in court that Foster had pushed Charmaine over the edge “with both hands,” and that the subsequent scene was “chaos.”
When emergency services got on the scene, PC Gary Davidson talked with Foster on the pier, the jury was told.
He testified in court, saying: “He stated it was an accident. He stated: “I only shoved her. Just a little bit of fun, “.
He claimed to have had a number of cans that day. I advised him to maintain his composure and refrain from speaking, but he continued to say these things.
Foster allegedly admitted to the officer that he was unaware that she couldn’t swim.
Foster’s attorneys said that he mistook Charmaine’s purported comment about getting in the water because of his mental health concerns.
However, prosecutor Alex Prentice QC stated in his concluding remarks that there was “overwhelming” proof Foster had pushed Charmaine and insisted that it was “planned behaviour.”
Foster’s attorney, Sean Templeton, argued for a total exoneration of the accused, saying: “It was a young man with learning challenges who got it wrong.”
Foster had a number of prior convictions, including one for assaulting a worker at a Costa coffee shop in Helensburgh in 2018. This information came to light after the judgment.
Charmaine was working as an assistant manager at a British Heart Foundation shop at the time, Mr. Prentice informed the court.
A week after her passing, she was scheduled to return to the charity store.
It is obvious that she was much loved, and her passing has caused enormous and ongoing anguish, the lawyer deputes stated. She was praised for being compassionate and selfless.
In light of the “extremely exceptional circumstances” of the case, Judge Lord Fairley informed the court that he would extend bail and postpone sentence until after receiving reports.
Charmaine’s parents mentioned how she had a gift for music and painting in their statement from today.
Additionally, they expressed gratitude to all parties engaged in the case and praised in particular the young people’s “selfless actions” in trying to assist Charmaine at the pier.
Although no penalty can ever bring Charmaine back, the statement’s conclusion expressed hope and prayer that the individual who took her life will get an appropriate sentence.
In September, Helensburgh resident Foster will receive his sentence.