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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Neal Keeling

Woman at centre of murder and rape probe once killed a man by pushing him under a tram at Manchester Victoria

A woman whose death triggered a rape and murder inquiry was once jailed for manslaughter after pushing a man under a tram at Manchester Victoria station.

Charrissa Brown, 36, was taken to hospital on Wednesday from a flat in Gorse Bank, Bury, but sadly died.

Police launched an investigation and arrested three men - aged 32, 52, and 61 - on suspicion of murder and rape.

READ MORE: GMP went to home of woman day before she died

The men were arrested at properties on Gorse Bank and Rutland Drive and remain in custody.

A post-mortem carried out Ms Brown's body was inconclusive. Evidence of possible drug misuse was found in the Gorse Bank property which police are pursuing as a line of inquiry.

In 2017 Ms Brown, who also went by the name Brown-Wellington, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. There is no connection between the two investigations, the Manchester Evening News understands.

Manchester Crown Court was told in 2017 that Ms Brown, then 31, killed Philip Carter during a violent outburst on the platform at Manchester Victoria station.

Philip Carter, 30, died after being hit by a tram (MEN Media)

Mr Carter, 30, who did not know his attacker, lost his balance and fell through a gap between the platform and a tram after she pushed him with ‘very excessive force’.

The tram pulled away a short time later and he was fatally injured.

After, Brown-Wellington was heard to say: “I didn’t mean it. He got in my face. We were just play fighting.”

The incident happened in June 2017 as Wellington-Brown was waiting with her partner to catch a tram back home to Chadderton.

Brown-Wellington had a personality disorder which causes ‘impulsive violence’, was drunk and had taken ecstasy earlier that night, the court was told.

She was also declared a dangerous offender by the judge, Mr Justice William Davis, who ordered she must serve two thirds of her sentence behind bars before being considered for parole.

Today, tributes have been paid to Ms Brown, including by her mother Sue Brown, who wrote on Facebook: 'RIP my beautiful daughter'. She urged friends to take flowers to the scene and lay them in memory of Charrissa.

Friend Leigh Kelly wrote: 'Rip Charrissa Brown absolutely heartbroken.

Charrissa Brown (Facebook)

'Loads of memories with you.. one of the funniest girls I know.. one day we will have that catch up until then may u rest in peace and be given the best bed in heaven my girl xxx.'

Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Kate Atton, from GMP's Bury CID, said: 'I have no doubt that the community are shocked and are worried to hear the news about this incident but I would like to reassure them that we have a dedicated team of detectives investigating and following up various lines of enquiry to establish the circumstances around this lady's death.

Police and forensic officers at a scene on Gorse Bank , Bury . 4 February 2022 (Manchester Evening News)

'High visibility patrols and local officers will be in the area and available to speak to anyone concerned and we will release more information as soon as we are able to.

'We want to give the lady's family the answers they deserve as they are understandably devastated at the loss and our thoughts remain with them. We'd ask anyone with information to come forward."

GMP says the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in line with normal procedure due to previous police contact.

Anyone with information can report it online or by using our LiveChat service at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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