Student, 18, ‘choked, beaten and drenched in beer by boyfriend’ ... then found dead
Body discovered day after ‘attack’, say court papers
A MAN appeared in court yesterday after allegedly attacking his teenage girlfriend who was found dead in her student flat the following day.
Angus Milligan, 21, is said to have assaulted Emily Drouet several times while she was living at Hillhead Halls in Aberdeen University.
He is also alleged to have behaved in a threatening or abusive manner towards the 18-year-old on various dates last year.
Law student Miss Drouet, from Glasgow, was found dead on March 18, the day after the last alleged assault.
Police investigated her death but ruled there were no suspicious circumstances.
Milligan, of Edinburgh, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday, facing eight charges, all of which he denied.
Court papers state that Milligan has been accused of assaulting his then girlfriend by pouring beer over her, seizing her by the
‘Her sunny smile and lovely personality’
neck, choking her and pushing her against a desk. The assaults are claimed to have happened between January 1 and March 17 last year.
Milligan is further claimed to have injured Miss Drouet by repeatedly slapping her face and pushing her, causing her to fall to the ground on Windmill Brae, Aberdeen. He is also accused of shouting and using abusive language towards her and sending indecent or ‘grossly offensive’ messages.
He has also been charged with assaulting Caitlyn McAlister and punching a mirror which smashed, causing glass to strike and injure Sophie Boulter.
Defence solicitor Peter Keane asked that new dates be set for a trial as Milligan had found a new lawyer. He said the accused had qualified for legal aid but that funding had later been found which would pay for a defence counsel. The trial will take place in May. Earlier this month, the Scottish Daily Mail reported that fellow students and friends of Miss Drouet held a party to mark what would have been her 19th birthday.
They had vowed to keep her memory alive and, more than ten months on from the tragedy, they Scottish Daily Mail, February 1 held a commemorative party, with the blessing of her family.
Co-organiser Blake Herriot had earlier said on social media: ‘So, this Saturday marks the 19th birthday of our beautiful Emily Drouet. Over ten months we have gone without our best friend beside us.’
Mr Herriot said a large group of Miss Drouet’s friends planned to attend a number of venues in Aberdeen, including her favourite nightclub, Vanity, where pictures of her ‘beautiful smile’ were to be displayed for all to remember her by.
He added: ‘Emily’s mum has made the best of arrangements to celebrate Emily turning 19. Balloons have been bought and drinks will be shared.
‘We all love you so much, Emily, we miss you more every day. It will never be the same without you.’
The party was welcomed by Miss Drouet’s grandmother, Eileen Campbell, who wrote on Facebook: ‘Emily is my beautiful, caring, very special granddaughter. Thank you, Blake, you put into words everything in my heart.’
In another post, she said: ‘Emily brought so much joy to our family.
‘Her sunny smile and lovely personality is so missed. Emily is loved so much and for ever in our hearts. Love you, Gran.’
The Samaritans charity is an organisation set up to help people who are struggling to cope with life, and provides a 24-hour service. Anyone who needs advice can contact the team on 116 123.