'Dragged to her death': Woman killed after 'angry boyfriend pulled her in front of train'



A mother-of-two was dragged into the path of a train by her angry boyfriend seconds after another man had saved her when her foot was caught in a level crossing, a court heard yesterday.



Kelly Mack's Ugg-style boot had become wedged in the side of a track before a passer-by pulled her to safety.



But she was allegedly 'snatched' away by boyfriend Darren Palmer who 'lost his temper' as he rushed to catch another train from a nearby platform.



Death scene: Police at Hythe station where Kelly Mack was killed



Miss Mack, 29, was killed instantly by a train passing through Hythe Station in Colchester while Palmer, 39, managed to jump clear.

David Etherington QC, prosecuting, yesterday described Palmer's actions as 'selfish and incredibly dangerous'.



'The prosecution case is that Darren Palmer dragged Kelly Mack across the railway tracks against her will to get to the opposite platform where they were going to catch a train to Clacton,' he said.

'The problem is the level crossing barriers were down and a train was due to come through.



Darren Palmer, left, is accused of killing his girlfriend Kelly Mack. Jonathan Freer-Smith tried to save her



'The Crown's case is he ignored the shouts of those present warning of the train's imminent arrival. He acted with complete disregard to the obvious danger to which he was putting them both.'



Chelmsford Crown Court heard the couple arrived at the station at 7.45pm in March last year and Palmer began crossing the tracks ahead of Miss Mack before her foot became caught.



'When she went to cross she caught her boot in between some of the wooden planks. There had been some arguments and shouting between them as to why she had not crossed the track,' Mr Etherington said.



The jury was told a member of the public, 18-year-old Jonathan Freer-Smith, rushed to help Miss Mack.

Mr Etherington added: 'He went on to the crossing to help Kelly Mack. He told her to "leave the boot" and got her physically to the London side of the tracks, the safe side, as the danger was coming on the Clacton side.



'Indeed, had things stayed as they were, this would have taken her out of the path of the train altogether.



Boots: A pair of Uggs

'The defendant took exception to this and walked back across and snatched her from Mr Freer-Smith's grasp and dragged her to the Clacton side and into the path of the train. He managed to jump clear of the train but she was killed when it hit her.'



The court heard Miss Mack was three times the drink-drive limit and was on a cocktail of methadone and four types of Valium-type drugs. Mr Etherington said Palmer may also have been intoxicated.



Unemployed Palmer told police he thought the safety barriers were down because the train coming into the station was going to stop.



He admitted he should never have tried to cross the tracks in the first place but said he did not see the train coming.



He insisted his girlfriend had stumbled and he helped her up and denied that Mr Freer-Smith had rescued her, saying: 'Kelly would never have gone with a stranger.'



Mr Etherington added: 'You can be sure Darren Palmer lost his temper as she had failed to come to him. He dragged her across the track in the path of the train. The prosecution will prove it was Darren Palmer's unlawful act that cost Kelly her life and the risk of fatal collision was obvious.'



Palmer denies manslaughter. The case continues.

No comments are allowed on this story because legal proceedings are ongoing.

