This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/05/georgina-drinkwater-inquest-woman-texted-about-aggressive-partner-before-fall

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Woman texted about 'aggressive' partner before fatal fall, inquest hears Woman texted about 'aggressive' partner before fatal fall, inquest hears
(35 minutes later)
A pregnant woman fell to her death from a balcony minutes after texting a friend that her partner was “on his mad drunk aggressive thing”, an inquest has heard.A pregnant woman fell to her death from a balcony minutes after texting a friend that her partner was “on his mad drunk aggressive thing”, an inquest has heard.
Georgina Drinkwater, 30, died when she fell from her third-floor flat at Orpheus House, Queen’s Park, north-west London, in the early hours of 23 February 2014.Georgina Drinkwater, 30, died when she fell from her third-floor flat at Orpheus House, Queen’s Park, north-west London, in the early hours of 23 February 2014.
Her mother, Pauline Tio, said she had feared for Drinkwater’s safety a year before her death, and said her daughter had been greatly let down by the authorities.Her mother, Pauline Tio, said she had feared for Drinkwater’s safety a year before her death, and said her daughter had been greatly let down by the authorities.
Drinkwater, a mother of two who was five months pregnant, made seven calls to a friend within a few minutes, two of them in the minute before the fatal fall.Drinkwater, a mother of two who was five months pregnant, made seven calls to a friend within a few minutes, two of them in the minute before the fatal fall.
She sent a message to the same friend about her partner Robert Weldon at 2.49am, about three minutes before she fell at 2.52am, the inquest heard.She sent a message to the same friend about her partner Robert Weldon at 2.49am, about three minutes before she fell at 2.52am, the inquest heard.
DCI Andrew Chalmers told the inquest at Westminster coroner’s court that Drinkwater wrote: “Claire call as soon as possible. He’s on his mad drunk aggressive thing.”DCI Andrew Chalmers told the inquest at Westminster coroner’s court that Drinkwater wrote: “Claire call as soon as possible. He’s on his mad drunk aggressive thing.”
The couple had left the Mason’s Arms pub at 1.55am and were captured on CCTV cameras walking back to the flat. Chalmers said the officer in charge of viewing the footage had said Drinkwater looked “somewhat frustrated”.The couple had left the Mason’s Arms pub at 1.55am and were captured on CCTV cameras walking back to the flat. Chalmers said the officer in charge of viewing the footage had said Drinkwater looked “somewhat frustrated”.
The inquest heard that the couple started arguing when they arrived home at 2.18am. Chalmers said neighbours heard “banging and shouting”, and one neighbour recognised Weldon’s voice. He was then heard shouting: “Somebody help me! Somebody help me!”The inquest heard that the couple started arguing when they arrived home at 2.18am. Chalmers said neighbours heard “banging and shouting”, and one neighbour recognised Weldon’s voice. He was then heard shouting: “Somebody help me! Somebody help me!”
Chalmers said someone at the scene saw Weldon sobbing and saying: “She just fell, she just fell. She’s pregnant. You’ve got to save her.”Chalmers said someone at the scene saw Weldon sobbing and saying: “She just fell, she just fell. She’s pregnant. You’ve got to save her.”
Dr Simon Poole, a pathologist, told the inquest that Drinkwater died from “multiple injuries consistent with free fall from a height”.Dr Simon Poole, a pathologist, told the inquest that Drinkwater died from “multiple injuries consistent with free fall from a height”.
Weldon, 28, said Drinkwater had become jealous, Chalmers told the inquest. Weldon was arrested on suspicion of murder just before 4am. The court heard that he said to the arresting officer: “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”Weldon, 28, said Drinkwater had become jealous, Chalmers told the inquest. Weldon was arrested on suspicion of murder just before 4am. The court heard that he said to the arresting officer: “I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
The inquest was told that the Crown Prosecution Service found there was insufficient evidence and Weldon was released without charge.The inquest was told that the Crown Prosecution Service found there was insufficient evidence and Weldon was released without charge.
Weldon said his partner had climbed down on to the second-floor balcony and slipped, and he had tried to stop her, according to Chalmers’s evidence. Weldon said his partner had climbed down on to the second-floor balcony and slipped and he had tried to stop her, according to Chalmers’s evidence.
Chalmers said a friend had described the couple’s relationship as volatile, but he said the friend added that Drinkwater said she was not frightened of Weldon and that she “could give as good as she got”.Chalmers said a friend had described the couple’s relationship as volatile, but he said the friend added that Drinkwater said she was not frightened of Weldon and that she “could give as good as she got”.
The friend said the pair, who started their relationship in 2012, “appeared to love each other”, the inquest heard.The friend said the pair, who started their relationship in 2012, “appeared to love each other”, the inquest heard.
Chalmers read a transcript of a recorded conversation between the pair in which Drinkwater said: “Hit me again like you did last time.”Chalmers read a transcript of a recorded conversation between the pair in which Drinkwater said: “Hit me again like you did last time.”
He told the inquest the police had been called on a number of occasions, including on Christmas Day 2013 when Drinkwater did not let Weldon into the flat because he was drunk.He told the inquest the police had been called on a number of occasions, including on Christmas Day 2013 when Drinkwater did not let Weldon into the flat because he was drunk.
Tio said that in the last few months of her daughter’s life, Drinkwater had been planning to move because she “did not feel safe or protected” and wanted to leave the relationship.Tio said that in the last few months of her daughter’s life, Drinkwater had been planning to move because she “did not feel safe or protected” and wanted to leave the relationship.
Tio told the courtroom: “I was very worried for Georgina’s safety. Twelve months even before she died I confided in a couple of my friends and even a police superintendent that I was worried for her safety.”Tio told the courtroom: “I was very worried for Georgina’s safety. Twelve months even before she died I confided in a couple of my friends and even a police superintendent that I was worried for her safety.”
She described an incident at Drinkwater’s flat in which she told Weldon she wanted him out. Tio said it was after this that her daughter told her about domestic violence.She described an incident at Drinkwater’s flat in which she told Weldon she wanted him out. Tio said it was after this that her daughter told her about domestic violence.
She said her daughter was a “high-risk” person, and said the authorities’ dealings with her had been a “collective failure”.She said her daughter was a “high-risk” person, and said the authorities’ dealings with her had been a “collective failure”.
Tio added: “Georgina has nothing to be ashamed of. She has gone through domestic violence, yes, but what sickens me and disgusts me is that that hasn’t been acknowledged.”Tio added: “Georgina has nothing to be ashamed of. She has gone through domestic violence, yes, but what sickens me and disgusts me is that that hasn’t been acknowledged.”
She said she pleaded with her daughter to “please stop making the excuse that drugs and alcohol are the cause of domestic violence”. She added: “It is a choice made by the person himself.”She said she pleaded with her daughter to “please stop making the excuse that drugs and alcohol are the cause of domestic violence”. She added: “It is a choice made by the person himself.”
The inquest was adjourned until Wednesday morning.The inquest was adjourned until Wednesday morning.