Court hears tearful 999 call from accused's mother

Jurors heard the mother of a man accused of throwing his teenage girlfriend from a tower block make a distraught plea for help as she told a 999 operator "she's dying, she's awake at the minute but she's dying."

Jordan Herring, 22, from Solihull, denies attempted murder by allegedly "throwing" his 18-year-old partner from the fourth floor at Merton House in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, on 12 November 2022.

Kerrie-Anne Grogan's call also included claims her son would not let her call for an ambulance and fears he might "get a knife and kill her."

Birmingham Crown Court was shown CCTV footage on Wednesday from the block of flats, which showed her bouncing on the grass verge below.

The 999 call recording made by the defendant's mother heard her claim: "I couldn't call the ambulance…I should've done it ages ago but he's my son.

"I'm scared he's gonna get a knife and kill her."

When asked by the 999 operator if she thought her son would try to stab the victim she replied "I don't know, love."

It was more than an hour after the incident that emergency services were called, the jury was told.

The jury was told that Herring was convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour against the teenager following a previous trial.

Prosecutor Jamie Scott said the accused had isolated the victim from her family, inspected her phone, assaulted her and previously locked her in his bedroom.

The teenager was airlifted to hospital, required a blood transfusion and assistance to breathe.

When questioned by police if her black eyes were new, Herring replied "no, she's had them for two or three days."

Her left lung had collapsed and she sustained multiple fractures around her ribs, pelvis and spinal bones.

The prosecutor said the defendant claimed they "got into an argument about cheating."

Mr Herring claimed the victim threatened "I'll jump out the window, then", and said he tried to grab her before she "leant to the side then dropped herself out the window", the court heard.

The trial continues.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.