Inquest into teen's death fall begins

Jovannii Peddie, 14, died when he fell from the bedroom of his home in the Missenden Block of the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth, south-east London, on 20 April this year.

Southwark Crown Court heard today (Tuesday) that the main window in Jovannii’s bedroom had a safety latch which prevented it being opened fully, but the teen knew how to take it off the latch.

Antony Peddie, Jovannii’s father, told the court he frequently spoke to his son about not opening the latch as the teen had a number of younger siblings.

‘On rare occasions he would open it up to see police chasing people or something like that but that did not happen a lot,’ he said.

Mr Peddie told the court that the family never received guidance from Southwark Council on using the window.

Speaking about the day he lost his son, Mr Peddie told the court that he was shaving in the bathroom when he heard a commotion.

He said: ‘I came out and I could hear my wife being hysterical and she just said “the window, the window”. I looked out and saw my son.’

The inquest is due to hear from Southwark Council and architects later on today, but delays mean it may now be put back to tomorrow afternoon.

Ian Wingfield, deputy leader of Southwark Council and cabinet member for housing, said: ‘This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the family.’