«Breaking News» Families of graffiti artists killed by a train after climbing on tracks with spray cans defend them

Three graffiti artists died as a result of an accident when they hid from an oncoming train, a coroner has found.

Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19, Jack Gilbert, 23, and Harrison Scott-Hood, 23, were struck by the train in the early hours of June 18 2018 on tracks in Brixton, south London.

Recording their deaths as an accident, Senior Coroner Andrew Harris told Southwark Coroner's Court they scaled a fence to access the track near Loughborough Junction station at about 12.25am.

He said: 'They were walking along a track which is subject to extensive graffiti. Unknown to them, they were facing an oncoming train. They hid by a wall but were struck by a train.'

The families of three paid tribute to their boys' 'passion' and warned others of the dangers of the art, saying the taggers would 'Rest in Paint'.

Left to right: Jack Gilbert, 23, Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19 and Harrison Scott-Hood, 23,

It is believed the trio walked from Brixton at around midnight on June 17 but were hit at 1.16am. Their bodies were discovered by a train driver around six hours later at 7am.

At the inquest today, their families gave individual and a joint statements defending the art form.

Southwark Coroner's Court heard Harrison's family believe there is a 'stigma' attached to graffiti despite it being an 'amazing art form'.

And in a joint statement, the families said the young men were 'only guilty of their love of painting' and were just trying to make their mark when they were killed.

Carlos Fresneda, father of Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, speaks to Maxine Gilbert as he leaves Southwark coroners court in Londo

Grieving parents left the court today. Perry Scott-Hood and Susie Scott-Hood, parents of Harrison Scott-Hood (right) attended the inquest, as well as Maxine Gilbert, Mother of Jack Gilbert (left) 

The statement said: 'Eight months ago our sons: Jack Francis Gilbert, Alberto Fresneda and Harrison Scott-Hood, three young men with a love for life, promising futures ahead of them and a passion for art, particularly tagging, tragically lost their lives because of the dangerous risks this art form brings.

'The 'painting community' take their art seriously in trying to find a status. This passion is what brought our boys together.

'In a time full of needless violence, if our sons were guilty of anything, it was their love for painting.

'We can only express to young people trying to make their mark, to please be safe. Keep your creativity alive - but don't risk your lives.'

The statement adds that the families are grateful to the 'painting community' for their tributes to the boys.

The families of three graffiti artists hit by a train as they climbed onto the tracks with spray paint cans have defended their actions. Pictured: Bodies being brought off the tracks

Isabel Carrasco leaves Southwark coroners court in London

It read: 'We are also very grateful to the 'Painters' and other artists for their love and tributes that help keep our boys memory alive. May they always Rest In Paint.'

Southwark Coroner's Court heard when the trio was hit by an eight-carriage train they were creeping along the track 'trying not to be seen.'

DS Simon Rees from British a Transport Police said: 'Their first instinct is to conceal themselves. They don't want to be seen.

'At that point they would have hidden which in terms of where they are - it would have been to drop down by a wall so they can't be seen.

'Unfortunately by that point they have already put themselves in harms way.'

Asked by Alberto's mother Isabel Carrasco if the trains are lit, DS Rees replied: 'There are two front lights similar to headlights. But they don't act as headlights.

'They are not expecting anything. The lights are more for other trains to see each other.

'There are lights on the sides but it's only when it comes around and straightens up [that they would have seen them].

'You can't even make out the wall.'

Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19, Jack Gilbert and Harrison Scott-Hood, both 23, were killed in the early hours of June 18

He added: 'None of the railway is lit up. It's not designed to be lit up.'

The detective explained that the train mechanism which contacts the power line recorded a 42-second outage, which was the point at which the group were hit as they tried to walk alongside the wall by the train as it came around a corner.

CCTV evidence shows the friends got the tube together earlier on in the evening to Brixton.

They then headed to outdoor market Pop Brixton until it closed at midnight and then walked towards Denmark Hill.

DS Rees said: 'They arranged to meet at Finsbury Park. They had plastic bags containing spray paints.

'They boarded together on the Victoria line at 8.50pm in June 17.

'And then two of them were seen by a passenger to use black markers on the seats. When challenged they didn't respond.

'At 8.50pm they arrived at Brixton underground and walked to the main line station and there was some graffiti put by them on the arches.

'They were seen there by two others using spray paint but in no way aggressive intimidating or threatening.

'They then go to Pop Brixton at 10.21pm. This being a small container market with food and drink.

'They stayed until it closed.'

DS Rees said they were captured on CCTV at 12.02am leaving and again at Brighton Terrace twenty minutes later heading to the railway bridge.

They are then believed to have climbed over wire fences and through undergrowth to access the tracks.

He said: 'Climbing over fences - obviously they are young men, they are six foot type wire fencing so there's a degree of difficulty.

'But if you are determined it's not insurmountable.

'The fences weren't broken down. For a determined person you could get over it.

Tributes: Fresh graffiti appeared next to Loughborough Station with three hearts under RIP

'Some areas use palisade fencing which is more substantial. They have spikes on top.'

Giving evidence, Jack's mother Maxine told the coroner: 'From an early age Jack loved to draw or paint.

'At home when he was relaxing, he was always scribbling away in his art book.

'His talent was recognised at school when he was picked to paint a mural ironically outside the local train station.

'He did private art work and was paid to design shop fronts.

'Painting grounded him and in those last few months, in our family's darkest days, it was his release.

'For that I will never condemn my son for what he did.'

She said Jack was a 'gorgeous, bright, cheeky and inquisitive' child with 'endless energy.'

He had been working at events as a safety manager, the inquest heard.

The family had suffered a recent bereavement at the time of Jack's death, Mrs Gilbert told the inquest.

Jack would help his sister with her two children after the death of his brother-in-law in January last year.

Mrs Gilbert said: 'Losing Jack was the most difficult day of my family's life. No words can adequately or sufficiently sum up the meaning or value of his short life.

'To experience the pain and devastation is a nightmare we don't ever wake up from.

'It leaves me helpless as a mother to be unable to protect and shield my family from this horror.'

Harrison's mother Susie Hood also gave evidence about her son to the inquest.

Describing him as a 'creative, free-spirited young man' she said over 400 people attended her son's funeral.

Mrs Hood said: 'He painted and drew from an early age filling numerous sketch books with his ideas, wrote poetry, recorded music and was a fantastic chef.

'The Graffiti community do not want to hurt anyone they just want to paint.

'It is such a dreadful shame it has such a stigma attached to it when it is an amazing art form.

'We truly believe his legacy will live on.'

Before the inquest broke for lunch, it heard an assessment said fences met Network Rail's standards a month before the young men's deaths.

Daniel Matthews from Network Rail said access to the railway tracks around that area were assessed every 12 weeks and they had been carried out around six months prior to the incident.

He added boundary fences, which the three were said to have climbed over to get to the elevated tracks, had met industry standards.

Senior Coroner Andrew Harris asked him: 'Would it be right that Network Rail monitors the degree of unauthorised access to trans as part of its function?

'To what extent is this area of track been accessed in the past?'

Mr Matthews replied: 'The figures we had there was five incidents in a 12 month period leading up to this incident.

'It is quite low for that part of London. There are certainly other parts of London which are more at risk from unauthorised access.'

He said these incidents related to people walking off platforms and attempting to take their life at the station.

He added: 'Network Rail inspects all its boundaries. It inspected this area on May 8.

'All records indicate there was no cause for concern at this location. There boundaries met standards.'

He said although palisade fences were an option that can be used to deter trespassers, they are only being considered for this area now because of a recent spate of fly tipping and padlocks being broken.

He said the area was currently being cleared and fences were expected to be up by the end of March.

Mr Matthews said: 'It's one tool in our armoury. We will try to prevent trespassers at that location.

'It's inspected every 12 weeks. In the last number of weeks there has been an increase in activity in that location.

'Padlocks being broken off and fly tipping in third party land. We are now considering what else we can do at that location as a result of that recent activity.

'I think it's only been assessed at the moment but there's an assumption we will be doing those works.' 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/28/families-of-graffiti-artists-killed-by-a-train-after-climbing-on-tracks-with-spray-cans-defend-them/
Main photo article Three graffiti artists died as a result of an accident when they hid from an oncoming train, a coroner has found.
Alberto Fresneda Carrasco, 19, Jack Gilbert, 23, and Harrison Scott-Hood, 23, were struck by the train in the early hours of June 18 2018 on tracks in Brixton, south...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/28/11/10403776-6755739-image-a-12_1551353510536.jpg