A teenage girl has described to a court the moment her boyfriend allegedly threatened to kill her before she fell more than 37 feet from a tower block window.
"I Will Throw You Out": The Final Memory
In a recorded police interview played at Birmingham Crown Court, the 18-year-old victim stated her clearest memory from the night of November 12, 2022, was of her boyfriend, Jordan Herring, putting her near a window. "The only thing I remember from that night is him literally putting me near the window, saying 'I will throw you out, I will kill you'," she told the officer. The incident occurred at Merton House in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, where Herring's mother lived.
A 'Toxic' Relationship and Coercive Control
The young woman described her relationship with the 22-year-old defendant from Solihull as 'very toxic'. She recounted an incident just two days before the fall, on November 10, when she was 'covered' in bruises. Herring allegedly made her lie to her visiting brother on the phone, saying she had no clothes on, before locking her in a bedroom and leaving.
She also told the court they had spent a night in a factory because Herring feared police were looking for them. The jury has been informed that Herring has previously been found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour against the same victim.
Confusion and Survival
The teenager expressed confusion about what triggered the violent incident at the flat, stating she remembered the evening being "okay" beforehand, with Herring showing her baby photos and them listening to music. "I don't remember arguing with him; this is why I'm confused, because I was perfectly fine with him," she said.
She confirmed they both smoked several cannabis 'spliffs' daily, which she said made Herring 'paranoid' but generally chilled them out. The victim, who survived the fall from the fourth floor, began seeing Herring in February 2022 and later moved in with him.
Jordan Herring denies a charge of attempted murder. The trial continues.
