The Inn, Railway Station, and Viaduct at Pontsarn

Description

Page 2

Image 1:

Looking back under the road bridge towards Pontsarn Station from the viaduct.

Image 2:

Pontsarn Inn

This is the back of the inn, viewed from the viaduct. To the left, partly obscured by trees, is a later extension to the original building.

Image 3:

South face of the viaduct.

Looking westwards from the eastern end of the viaduct, one can just make out the Pontsarn Inn through the trees.

Image 4:

Southern aspect of the viaduct, viewed from the east.

Image 5:

In this view from the eastern end of the viaduct, the spring sunshine has projected shadows of the arches onto the floor of the gorge.

A Suicide (or Murder?) off Pontsarn Viaduct

In 1992, a 28-year-old hospital porter (we'll call him Mr A) plunged to his death off the Pontsarn Viaduct. But did he jump or was he pushed?

In the subsequent case heard at Cardiff Crown Court, 32-year-old Mr B admitted assisting the suicide of his friend Mr A. Mr A had already had several bouts of depression during which he had asked Mr B to kill him. Mr B drove his friend to the Pontsarn Viaduct, where Mr A sat on the parapet and begged Mr B to push him off. In court, Mr B claimed not to be able to remember what happened next. However, four days after Mr A had plunged to his death, Mr B walked into a police station and admitted killing his friend. He was initially charged with murder, but the charge was later dropped, and he was found guilty of assisting suicide, and gaoled for two years.

Mr B was fortunate to be convicted on the lesser charge. Homicide, even at the request of the deceased, is held to be murder and not assisted suicide under current UK law.

Source: The above account was extracted from an unpublished article by crime writer Linda Stratmann. For full details see: http://www.lindastratmann.com/MurderbyConsent.html

Further Information

You'll find further information about and photographs of Pontsarn and the Brecon and Merthyr Railway at: http://www.brecon-beacons.com/pontsarn.htm http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/pontsarn.htm

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