Man denies leaving his ex-fiancee to tram fate

A retired policeman today denied leaving his ex-fiancee in "cold blood" to be struck and killed by a Midland Metro on tram tracks in Wolverhampton.

Ian Bracey's denial came as a coroner suggested he had blood on his jacket because he had assaulted Cheryl Flanagan, of Bilston, moments before the tragedy.

Mr Bracey, aged 56, gave evidence for first time today at the inquest of 30-year-old Miss Flanagan.

The inquest has heard how their relationship ended and they had argued at The Crescent stop in Bilston.

Miss Flanagan was said to have thrown Mr Bracey's scarf onto the tram lines. Mr Bracey said today he went to retrieve the scarf, leaving Miss Flanagan alive at around 11pm on December 12, 2003.

Mr Hugh Davies, on behalf of British Transport Police, suggested Miss Flanagan may have tripped and knocked herself unconscious before being killed by the tram, or that Mr Bracey "finally lost it" and pushed her leaving her unconscious between the rails and in "cold blood" to her fate.

He also said a possibility was that Mr Bracey had realised she had fallen but not believed she was unconscious and took a "terrible decision not to help her".

Mr Bracey denied harming Cheryl saying he would have helped anyone who had fallen in the path of a tram.

Mr Bracey, who retired from the force in 2006 and is now a delivery driver replied: "There was no physical violence towards Cheryl."

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams asked: "Did you push her over?"

Mr Bracey admitted he had been arguing with Miss Flanagan on a bridge over the tramway at The Crescent stop at Bilston.

Mr Williams asked: "Did you kick her in the back of the head?" Mr Bracey replied: "No sir, she wasn't with me."

Mr Williams asked: "Did you kick her in the face?" Mr Bracey replied: "No sir, I never ever showed her physical violence — I wouldn't have harmed a hair on her ever."

The inquest continues.