Woman jailed for pushing man in front of Manchester tram
Five year sentence after admitting manslaughter
Last updated 31st Oct 2017
By Kim Pilling, Press Association
A woman who pushed a man into the path of a moving tram has been jailed for five years.
Sentencing, Mr Justice William Davis told her: That's as far as it should have gone ... but no, you reacted by pushing him forcefully and as it happened pushed him in in the direction of a tram just as it was moving away.
It is merely yet another example of you reacting violently when faced with something you did not like very much.
CCTV captured her getting off a tram at about 7.45pm and an argument with Mr Carter, who was holding a bottle of alcohol, soon ensued.
On her arrival at a local police station after she was arrested, Brown-Wellington told officers: He should not have put his finger in my face. All my life I have had to put up with men putting their hands around me.''
Philip Carter, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision at Victoria station in Manchester city centre on June 11.
He fell backwards and tragically fell between two cars of the tram. He was crushed to death in full view of any number of bystanders.
Brown-Wellington, who is said to have a personality disorder which leads to acts of impulsive violence'', posed a significant risk of causing harm to the public until shegets a grip'' on her emotional well-being and substance misuse, the judge ruled.
Mr Hall said: As the defendant got off the tram she was heard to say, 'What are you looking at?'
The court heard the defendant had 65 previous convictions including offences of assaulting police officers, affray and threatening behaviour. On one occasion she had used a weapon in committing an offence
Charissa Brown-Wellington, 31, pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court last month to the manslaughter of Mr Carter.
There was more than one victim in this case because the effect of what you did was so dreadful.
Just before he passed sentence, a tearful Brown-Wellington cried from the dock: It was an accident. I swear it was.''
Mr Carter said something back to her, the defendant turned and walked towards him shouting, 'You what? what did you say?'.''
The defendant must serve two-thirds of her sentence in prison before she can be considered for parole.
There was nothing accidental about you losing your temper and pushing this man forcefully.''
Brown-Wellington, from Chadderton, was not known to Mr Carter, the court was told.
The row escalated as both told each other to get out of my face'', the court heard.
On her release she will be subject to an extended licence period of three years.
The judge said he accepted the defendant did not intend to kill or seriously harm Mr Carter, but he noted she had a long, bad'' criminal record including offences of violence.
Rob Hall, prosecuting, said the defendant and her fiance had earlier shared a bottle of wine in Manchester city centre.
A push followed with both hands to his chest, said Mr Hall, which a number of witnesses described as very excessive and not necessary'' and led to Mr Carter falling off the platform.
The court heard Brown-Wellington was significantly affected'' by alcohol and drugs when she became involved in anexchange of abuse'' at the Metrolink stop with Mr Carter, who had also been drinking.
He said: The reality is that though what you did was not unprovoked it was completely unnecessary and it was aggressive.
She also drank two cans of lager, while toxicology tests showed drugs including ecstasy were in her system at the time.
Mr Carter suffered multiple crush injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.