Incorrect Location Recorded During 999 Call Before Fatal Fall
The possible location of screams for help heard in a high-rise flat prior to a man falling to his death was incorrectly recorded during a 999 call, an inquiry in Aberdeen has revealed.
Jamie Forbes, aged 37, was held against his will in the 18-floor Elphinstone Court in Aberdeen for two days in January 2024 before he fell from a 12th floor window.
When police conducted door-to-door inquiries, they were unable to determine the exact source of the pleas for help.
A call handler testified on the second day of the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) in Aberdeen that he had mistakenly recorded information from a caller regarding which floor the screams originated from.
Lee Smith, 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison in December 2024 after pleading guilty to culpable homicide in connection with the case.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Hood was informed that the abuse inflicted on Forbes was so severe that he felt he had no alternative but to jump from the window.
Police later found that the lock on the flat's door had been tampered with, making the window the only possible escape route.
Officers discovered Smith washing dishes in the kitchen and noted bloodstains throughout the flat.
Smith had repeatedly struck Forbes with a hammer and had punched and kicked him during the assault.
Emergency Call Details and Miscommunication
On Wednesday, Callum Scott, 28, a service adviser for Police Scotland, testified at the FAI that he received an emergency call reporting screams.
The caller, Gail Thomson, indicated she believed the screams were coming from approximately six floors down from the top of the building.
However, Scott recorded the information as six to eight floors up, an error he acknowledged as a miscommunication.
"He agreed it was a miscommunication."
Scott stated that the incident was flagged as requiring an immediate response due to the presence of someone shouting for help.
Multiple Injuries and Post Mortem Findings
Jamie Forbes was subsequently seen falling to his death.
The first day of the FAI heard that a post mortem examination revealed multiple internal injuries consistent with a fall from height.
Additionally, sharp force injuries were found on his hands, described as "classic defence-type injuries."
Inquiry Proceedings
The FAI is being conducted in the civil annexe of Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
The inquiry is expected to last approximately four days, followed by later submissions before Sheriff Principal Andrew Miller considers his determination.
