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Copycat suicides fears over tower block deaths
Third tragedy sparks criticism of delay in removing scaffolding
A series of deaths at a West Hampstead tower block has led to speculation that they could be copycat suicides.
Three men have been found dead at Casterbridge House in Abbey Road in the space of nine months.
Last Wednesday Dean Bennett, 34, became the third man who is believed to have thrown himself from the 19-storey building. Three weeks earlier Dimita Dimitrov was discovered dead at the foot of the tower and in October last year Colin Allan Lee Wright died at the same spot.
Lib Dem councillor John Bryant, who three years ago chaired a panel that looked into suicides in Camden, has suggested the most recent death should not have been reported in the New Journal last week. The death in June was also reported in the press.
Cllr Bryant said: “If there’s coverage in the media there can be copycat suicides. If people are in the mood to consider suicide and they read about an attempt in their area they often consider the same methods. I’m afraid that’s the nature of suicide.”
The block has been covered in scaffolding for more than two years while the council has carried out £4.5 million repairs, which involved replacing, the roof, cladding and windows.
Following the latest death, tenants have blamed the council for delaying the removal of scaffolding. Residents say they received a letter from the council in May promising the scaffolding would be removed that month, but say they never saw any workmen.
Jeton Bejtullahi, who lives in the tower with his wife and two children, said the council should have acted with urgency.
“Would you be happy if there were three deaths on your doorstep?” said Mr Bejtullahi, whose window overlooks the spot where Mr Bennett was found. “Every single night I see the face of that guy (Mr Bennett). I hope they learn from this and there is not a repeat.”
The council claims most of the scaffolding had come down before Mr Dimitrov’s death in June. It was ordered not to touch the scaffolding while the death was investigated.
Then, days after a coroner gave the council the all-clear to finish the job, Mr Bennett died. Once again, the council had to keep the scaffolding while the death was investigated.
A council press official said: “The scaffolding was in the process of being removed when the first incident happened in June. We had to allow the police and Health and Safety Executive to complete their investigations before the scaffolding was removed.
“Official clearance from the coroner to remove the scaffolding was given on July 9. Work had already commenced when the second death happened.”
A St Pancras inquest into the death of Mr Bennett, who was from Camden Town, was opened on Tuesday. It will be resumed at a later date, when the coroner could make recommendations to the council about the security of its scaffolding. |
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