Ilford station worker's death: Trial of issue begins

A jury is being asked to decide if a punch thrown by Ayodele Jamgbadi caused the fatal injuries to Elizabeth Line assistant Jorge Ortega at Ilford railway station. Jamgbadi, 30, is accused of murdering Mr Ortega, 61, who died two days after an altercation on December 4, 2024. The case is proceeding as a trial of issue because Jamgbadi has been found unfit to plead due to his mental health.

Incident at Ilford Station

The court heard that Jamgbadi, of Kingston Road, Ilford, arrived at Ilford station and appeared agitated after missing a train to London Stratford. CCTV footage showed him repeatedly kicking an advertisement frame. Mr Ortega, who was on a break in the staff office near platform three, along with two other colleagues, came out to address the disturbance.

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis told Inner London Crown Court that Mr Ortega asked Jamgbadi if everything was alright. Another customer experience assistant, Mohammed Alim, testified that Jamgbadi seemed angry and questioned who had a problem. As Mr Ortega stepped back, Jamgbadi allegedly punched him once in the face with significant force.

This impact caused Mr Ortega to fall backwards, striking his head on the concrete platform and losing consciousness. He was taken to The Royal London Hospital in Tower Hamlets, where he died on December 6, 2024, from a severe traumatic brain injury. The prosecution stated that the punch was the direct cause of Mr Ortega hitting his head.

Trial of Issue

Jamgbadi is currently receiving treatment in hospital and is not attending court. The jury's role in this trial of issue is not to determine guilt or innocence in the traditional sense. Instead, they must ascertain whether Jamgbadi did indeed punch Mr Ortega and whether that action was a significant contributing factor to the assistant's death.

Tributes to Mr Ortega

Mr Ortega's family described him as a loving, kind, and devoted family man. In a statement released by his son, they said he was a brilliant individual who enjoyed cooking and drawing. They highlighted his devotion to his wife of over 38 years and his love for his grandchildren, stating he was a role model who always put others first.

The trial continues.