Teacher dies days before court appearance for 'assaulting pupil'

A secondary school teacher has died just days before she was due to face trial for allegedly assaulting a female pupil.

Languages teacher and church minister's wife Katherine Scouler had been suspended since October after a classroom incident at Hawick High School in the Scottish borders.

She was due to appear in court on Thursday accused of pulling a girl's hair and striking her to the head with her hand while reportedly trying to take a mobile phone off her.

But the mother of two died ahead of the hearing after suffering serious injuries in an incident in her garden in Hawick in the early hours of 4 February.

The 53-year-old mother of two was taken to hospital but died from her injuries last Tuesday. Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances in relation to her death.

Her family released a statement through a legal firm, saying: "Her sudden death has left us completely devastated. No words can express the sense of loss we feel about her passing."

Colleagues at Hawick High School are said to be angry at the lack of support given to Scouler by her employers Scottish Borders Council during disciplinary proceedings over the incident, believing it was an accident.

The Crown Office has confirmed that the death of the teacher, who has been described as a "pillar of the community", brings any active proceedings to an end.

Read more: Brianna Ghey: What we know about stabbing of 15-year-old girl in 'targeted attack'

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of Katherine Scouler. Our thoughts are with her family."

"Katherine was a valued member of the Hawick High School community.

"Arrangements are in place to support colleagues or pupils affected by this news."

Scouler, described by locals as "one of the nicest people you would ever meet", was originally from Fenland in Cambridgeshire and met her husband, a former Church of Scotland minister and currently chaplain with NHS Borders, when he was stationed nearby as a soldier with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.

The couple have two daughters, Jenny, 30, and Heather, 28, who live abroad.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "At around 3.55am on Saturday, February 4, police attended a concern for a person call at an address on High Street in Hawick.

"A 53-year-old woman was taken to hospital following the incident. She subsequently died in hospital on Tuesday, February 7.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."