Man guilty of killing stranger by pushing her off Helensburgh Pier

Published

4 years ago

August 4, 2022

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A 29-year-old man has been found guilty of killing a stranger by picking her up and then pushing her off a pier.

Jacob Foster attacked Charmaine O’Donnell at Helensburgh Pier, in Argyll and Bute, in April 2021.

Jurors at the the High Court in Glasgow heard Ms O’Donnell, 25, suffered severe neck injuries and drowned after she was pushed into the water.

Her family said her death had “changed our lives forever”, but that justice had now been served.

Foster, who had denied murder, was convicted of culpable homicide after a trial.

His lawyers had lodged a special defence of diminished responsibility, saying he had an “abnormality of mind” at the time. Foster, from Helensburgh, suffers from a learning disability.

*Jacob Foster told a police officer at the scene that it was “just a bit of fun”*

The trial heard that Ms O’Donnell had gone to Helensburgh with a friend, Caitlin McTaggart, on 23 April last year to enjoy the good weather.

The pair began chatting to three men fishing and Ms McTaggart, 25, said it appeared Foster was trying to get involved in the conversation.

She told the court that neither she nor Ms O’Donnell knew him.

The jurors heard there had then been a “commotion” when Ms O’Donnell was pushed over the railings at the pier and someone shouted to Ms McTaggart: “That’s your pal.”

Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked Ms McTaggart: “Did you say anything to Jacob?”

She replied: “I was screaming at him to help her. He just kept saying: ‘What have I done? I have taken it too far this time. I am going away for a long time’.”

What is culpable homicide?

Culpable homicide is the term used in Scots law for an offence where someone caused the death of another person by acting unlawfully but with no intention to kill.

It is different to murder where there is criminal intention, and from causing death by an accident where no-one can be blamed.

They could, for example, have assaulted someone in an attempt to injure them, but not to kill them.

There must also not have been “wicked recklessness” – which is usually based on the actions of the accused and the severity of the injuries suffered by the victim.

Deaths can also be treated as culpable homicide rather than murder if the accused was found to be of “diminished responsibility” because of some mental illness, or where there was provocation.

Anyone convicted of murder in Scotland automatically faces a life sentence, but there is no such rule for culpable homicide and people convicted of it are not always jailed.

The equivalent offence in England and Wales is manslaughter.

Stephen Cairns, who was one of the men fishing that day, told the court he remembered speaking to the women and Foster also being there.

The 42-year-old told jurors Ms O’Donnell had been standing at the railings on the edge of the pier at one stage.

He added: “I turned around and saw the accused pushing the girl over the railing.

“He pushed her with both hands.”

Ms McTaggart called 999 to get help and emergency services were sent to the scene.

PC Gary Davidson told the court that Foster had been “quite agitated and talking a lot” when he arrived at the pier.

The officer said Foster had told him: “I just pushed her, it was just a bit of fun.”

The trial also heard from several teenagers who tried to help Ms O’Donnell after she was pushed into the water.

One of them said he had noticed the woman’s shoe floating in the water and “a bit of blood”.

Foster’s lawyers had claimed that because of his mental health issues he had misunderstood an alleged remark Ms O’Donnell made about going into the water.

Sean Templeton, defending, had asked for Foster to be completely acquitted, saying: “It was a young man with learning difficulties who got it wrong.”

After the verdict, it emerged Foster had a number of previous convictions, including assaulting a staff member at a Costa coffee shop in Helensburgh in 2018.

Mr Prentice told the court Ms O’Donnell had been on furlough from her job as an assistant manager at a British Heart Foundation shop. She was due to return a week after she died.

Lord Fairley said in the “very unusual circumstances” of the case he would continue bail and adjourned for reports.

Helensburgh Pier — *Ms O’Donnell was pushed over the railings on the pier*

The advocate depute said: “It is clear she was much loved and her death has brought untold and continuing grief.

“She was described as a loving and selfless person.”

Ms O’Donnell’s mother, Jacqueline Gallacher, 50, and stepfather William King, 54, said they believed the jury had reached the right verdict.

“The past 15 months have been the most difficult time we have ever had to face,” they said.

“Losing Charmaine has changed our lives forever. We will never be the same again. Our hearts have been broken.

“She had her whole life ahead of her. She had a great personality and sense of humour, warming the hearts of all who met her.”

‘Treasured colleague’

Mike Taylor, commercial director at the British Heart Foundation, said fellow workers at the charity were “devastated about the tragic death of our treasured colleague Charmaine O’Donnell”.

He added: “Charmaine made an incredible contribution to the BHF over many years, rising from apprentice to assistant manager of our Glasgow Union Street shop, and was an integral member of our team.

“We’re continuing to support all our colleagues and volunteers through this extremely difficult time, and our thoughts are with Charmaine’s friends and family.” (BBC)

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$300bn reconstruction aid, sanctions lift’ – US-Iran MoU details emerge

Published

6 days ago

June 17, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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The following is the text of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, as read out by a senior US official to reporters on Wednesday:

“The United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran have jointly agreed in good faith on (a date yet to be determined, the official said), on the following:

“Paragraph 1 – The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war, by signing this MOU, declare an immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph.

“Paragraph 2 – The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.

“Paragraph 3 – The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days extendable with mutual consent.

“Paragraph 4 – Immediately upon the signing of this MOU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal.

“Paragraph 5 – Upon the signing of this MOU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles, and de-mining by the Islamic Republic of Iran, will be instated within 30 days. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz, in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states, in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Paragraph 6 – The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. All required licenses, waivers, and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.

“Paragraph 7 – The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed-upon schedule as part of the final deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned, and express their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.

“Paragraph 8 – The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in Paragraph 7, with the minimum methodology to be down-blending on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned, and express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiation in order to achieve mutual agreement on them.

“Paragraph 9 – Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions, and will not deploy additional forces in the region.

“Paragraph 10 – The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MOU, and until the termination of sanctions, US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc.

“Paragraph 11 – The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MOU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during the negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly.

“Paragraph 12 – The United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MOU and the future compliance of the final deal.

“Paragraph 13 – After signing this MOU and subject to the beginning of the implementation of Paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MOU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs.

“Paragraph 14 – The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UNSC resolution.”

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International

Iran threatens retaliation, says US strikes violated ceasefire

Published

4 weeks ago

May 26, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

US President Donald Trump

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Iran’s foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the United States of violating a fragile ceasefire during the past 48 hours in the southern coastal province of Hormozgan, without specifying the incident.

The accusation comes after US Central Command said its forces had on Monday attacked missile sites and boats in southern Iran that were trying to lay mines in the Gulf, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it fired at US aircraft trying to enter its airspace.

“The US terrorist army, continuing its illegal and unjustified actions since the ceasefire… has, in the past 48 hours, committed a gross violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region,” the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement.

It added that Tehran “will not leave any evil unanswered and will not hesitate to defend the Iranian nation,” without elaborating.

Tuesday’s statement came as a top Iranian delegation was in Qatar for talks as part of a “diplomatic process” aimed at ending the war with the United States, which broke out on February 28

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International

Dozens of lranian fighters killed, as US resumes strike in Strait of Hormuz, targets IRGC Naval Boats in the Gulf

Published

4 weeks ago

May 26, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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U.S. fighter jets have reportedly struck IRGC naval boats in the Gulf after Iranian forces allegedly targeted a vessel near Bandar Abbas.

U.S. Central Command confirms “self-defense strikes” were carried out against Iranian boats and missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in the region.

It was stated that the numbers of dead has increased from 9 to 15, with dozens still missing while others remain injured.

According to emerging reports, the strikes targeted IRGC maritime assets and defensive positions during what rapidly escalated into a major military confrontation in the region. Rescue and emergency operations are said to be ongoing as authorities continue searching for missing personnel.

Iranian and regional media report heavy explosions and gunfire near Bandar Abbas, while negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue in Qatar.