London inquest opens into Indian-origin family high-rise deaths
An inquest has opened into the deaths of an Indian-origin family who fell from a London tower block. The hearing was adjourned as police await forensic and medical reports to establish the circumstances.
An inquest into the deaths of an Indian-origin family of three who fell from a high-rise apartment block in London has opened, with the Metropolitan Police investigation into the incident still under way. Aditi Vijay Paralkar, 46, Rakesh Narayan Pai, 47, and their nine-year-old son Sid Rene Pai-Paralkar died after falling from the 36th floor of a residential tower on May 27.
The deaths are being treated as suspected suicide, though the circumstances are still being examined. Opening the hearing, Michelle Haste, assistant coroner at the London Inner South Coroner's Court, said: "I am very content to allow the police to have plenty of time to continue their investigation into these very tragic deaths."
According to court reports, the inquest heard that all three were pronounced dead at the scene. While Paralkar and Pai died from multiple injuries, the cause of death of their son is yet to be determined. Met Police Detective Sergeant Simon Monga was quoted by the Sun newspaper as saying that the family "fell from height on to another building", after which their bodies were recovered by the London Fire Brigade.
Monga told the hearing on Wednesday that officers are waiting for the results of pathology and forensic examinations and are continuing to review evidence linked to the incident. He said it would take "at least six months" for a paediatric pathologist to complete a report into Sid's death. The coroner then adjourned the inquest until the police investigation is complete.
According to the newspaper, the parents worked as consultants in high-earning jobs while also caring for their son, who suffered from a kidney disease. The report said they had moved back to India around six years ago to seek specialist medical help for him, but later returned to the UK after doctors failed to improve his condition.
Last month, Neil Coyle, the local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: "It's a terrible tragedy, a family of three. Just awful. Some constituents saw it happen." He added: "The suggestion was that the child was born in the UK with severe illnesses, which the police inferred contributed to their horrendous decision." In a letter to constituents after the deaths, he wrote: "The tragic circumstances are not fully known yet, but the police believe it was suicide and are not seeking anyone else at this point (although investigations are ongoing)." He added: "I cannot imagine what situation would lead a family to this terrifying incident, but my thoughts are with their family and loved ones, as well as their friends and all who knew them locally."
The inquest has now been put off while investigators wait for medical and forensic reports and continue examining the deaths. In England, inquests are fact-finding hearings held after sudden or unexplained deaths to establish the circumstances surrounding a tragedy.
With PTI Inputs
An inquest into the deaths of an Indian-origin family of three who fell from a high-rise apartment block in London has opened, with the Metropolitan Police investigation into the incident still under way. Aditi Vijay Paralkar, 46, Rakesh Narayan Pai, 47, and their nine-year-old son Sid Rene Pai-Paralkar died after falling from the 36th floor of a residential tower on May 27.
The deaths are being treated as suspected suicide, though the circumstances are still being examined. Opening the hearing, Michelle Haste, assistant coroner at the London Inner South Coroner's Court, said: "I am very content to allow the police to have plenty of time to continue their investigation into these very tragic deaths."
According to court reports, the inquest heard that all three were pronounced dead at the scene. While Paralkar and Pai died from multiple injuries, the cause of death of their son is yet to be determined. Met Police Detective Sergeant Simon Monga was quoted by the Sun newspaper as saying that the family "fell from height on to another building", after which their bodies were recovered by the London Fire Brigade.
Monga told the hearing on Wednesday that officers are waiting for the results of pathology and forensic examinations and are continuing to review evidence linked to the incident. He said it would take "at least six months" for a paediatric pathologist to complete a report into Sid's death. The coroner then adjourned the inquest until the police investigation is complete.
According to the newspaper, the parents worked as consultants in high-earning jobs while also caring for their son, who suffered from a kidney disease. The report said they had moved back to India around six years ago to seek specialist medical help for him, but later returned to the UK after doctors failed to improve his condition.
Last month, Neil Coyle, the local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: "It's a terrible tragedy, a family of three. Just awful. Some constituents saw it happen." He added: "The suggestion was that the child was born in the UK with severe illnesses, which the police inferred contributed to their horrendous decision." In a letter to constituents after the deaths, he wrote: "The tragic circumstances are not fully known yet, but the police believe it was suicide and are not seeking anyone else at this point (although investigations are ongoing)." He added: "I cannot imagine what situation would lead a family to this terrifying incident, but my thoughts are with their family and loved ones, as well as their friends and all who knew them locally."
The inquest has now been put off while investigators wait for medical and forensic reports and continue examining the deaths. In England, inquests are fact-finding hearings held after sudden or unexplained deaths to establish the circumstances surrounding a tragedy.
With PTI Inputs
