Accused ‘threw stranger to her death off pier’
A MAN appeared in court yesterday accused of murdering a stranger by throwing her from a pier.
Jacob Foster, 29, allegedly killed Charmaine O’Donnell on April 23 last year at Helensburgh Pier, Dunbartonshire.
Miss O’Donnell, 25, died from severe neck injuries and drowning at the hands of Foster, the High Court in Glasgow heard.
He denies murder and his lawyers have lodged a special defence of diminished responsibility due to an ‘abnormality of mind’ at the time.
Miss O’Donnell’s friend, Caitlin McTaggart, 25, told jurors yesterday: ‘I had wanted to go the Campsies where there is a waterfall.
‘She said “No” because she would have ended up in the water, basically.’
The women arrived at Helensburgh Pier and got chatting to three men who were fishing. Foster and another man were nearby and tried to engage the women in conversation.
Miss McTaggart said that the next thing she knew there was a ‘commotion’ about someone being thrown over the railings or barrier at the pier. She did not initially know who it was, but one eyewitness shouted to her: ‘That’s your pal.’
Miss McTaggart said she saw her friend ‘in the water’, and Foster on the pier.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice, QC, asked her: ‘Did you say anything to Jacob?’
She replied: ‘I was screaming at him to help her. He kept saying: “What have I done? I have taken it too far this time. I am going away for a long time”.’
The murder charge claims Foster picked up Miss O’Donnell, carried her to a barrier before pushing or throwing her, causing her to strike the water, and was so severely injured, she died. The trial, before judge Lord Fairley, continues