THE partner of a woman who died after being hit by a train has been dramatically cleared of causing her death.

Annie Davidson

THE partner of a woman who died after being hit by a train has been dramatically cleared of causing her death.

Darren Palmer was found not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court today by a majority verdict after a two week trial.

Mr Palmer, 39, had denied a charge of manslaughter relating to his partner Kelly Mack's death at Hythe station in Colchester on March 27 last year.

Miss Mack, 29, the mother of Palmer's two children, was killed by a train after going onto the track when the safety barriers were down.

The prosecution alleged Mr Palmer, who lived with Miss Mack in Mendlesham Close, Clacton, had dragged her out of the arms of a teenager who tried to help her and into the path of the train.

But he told the jury he had been crossing to catch his train home, believing his partner was following him but then turned to see she was not there as the non-stopping train was arriving.

“I was like a rabbit caught in headlights, I could not move - I never saw Kelly there.

“I crossed over and I believed that Kelly was behind me,” Palmer said.