Overview
- Testifying at Birmingham Crown Court, Herring claimed the 18-year-old climbed onto the sill and dropped herself after an argument, adding he was impaired by cannabis and did not manage to grab her.
- CCTV previously shown to the jury captured the fall at 11:22 p.m., then showed Herring and his mother carrying the injured teenager back upstairs rather than calling for help immediately.
- The 999 call played in court featured Herring’s mother saying he would not let her call for two hours, that he had a knife, and that she feared for her life, though she also said the teen said she jumped.
- Prosecutors allege premeditation, saying Herring removed a curtain pole and unlocked a window safety catch before threatening, “I will throw you out, I will kill you,” which he denies.
- The teenager survived with collapsed lungs, a ruptured spleen, a liver injury, and multiple fractures after being airlifted to hospital, and jurors were told Herring has a prior conviction for coercive and controlling behavior against her.