Woman admits car park row killing

Ann Whittle, who died in hospital about 50 minutes after the incident

A woman has admitted killing a 58-year-old grandmother following a row over a parking space in Glasgow.

Carol McMillan, 34, of Spey Walk, Holytown, Lanarkshire, admitted the culpable homicide of Ann Whittle on 15 August last year.

The pair clashed over a space at a car boot sale at Blochairn Road, Glasgow. McMillan repeatedly kicked Mrs Whittle, who later died in hospital.

Judge Lady Dorian deferred sentence on McMillan for background reports.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Mrs McMillan grabbed Mrs Whittle by the hair and kicked her three times on the head.

Her victim suffered a heart attack and collapsed.

She put her hands on the bonnet and attempted to stop him entering the space Brian McConnachie Prosecuting

Her husband, Norman, 68, shouted: "You've killed my wife."

McMillan's partner, Charles Freeburn, 34, admitted assaulting Mr Whittle by punching him twice on the head.

Brian McConnachie, prosecuting, said the Whittles found it difficult to get a parking space when they arrived at the car boot sale.

He said: "They arrived at 10.20am and had difficulty parking.

"Mr Whittle eventually stopped beside a no parking sign, but his wife said he shouldn't park there."

The court heard Mrs Whittle got out of the car and spoke to a driver who was about to drive off.

She stood in the parking space in order to keep the place while her husband drove across the road.

'Grabbed by the hair'

However, as he manoeuvred his car, McMillan got out of her vehicle and stood in the parking space.

Mr McConnachie added: "She put her hands on the bonnet and attempted to stop him entering the space.

"Mrs Whittle made a comment to the effect that she and her husband were there first. Carol McMillan turned and grabbed her by the hair and then kicked her on the face three times."

The court heard that McMillan told police she had been hit by Mr Whittle's car, but this claim was not supported by eyewitness accounts.

Angina sufferer

Mrs Whittle was pronounced dead at Glasgow's Royal Infirmary about 50 minutes after the incident.

The court was told she suffered from shortness of breath, heart problems and angina.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Whittle suffered from a narrowing of three main arteries.

Throughout the court hearing, McMillan sat sobbing in the dock.

Paul McBride QC, defending, said his client had been in a permanent state of tears since the incident.