Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Depression dogged rail death pair





Katie Gumble and her boyfriend Dean Pickard died at Harlow Mill Station
A couple who died when they were hit by a packed commuter train travelling at 80mph had a history of depression and alcohol problems, an inquest has heard.
Dean Pickard, 33, from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, and his girlfriend Katie Gumble, 35, of Harlow in Essex, died on track at Harlow Mill Station in April.
The couple bought vodka on the morning they died and were seen drinking from a bottle in a car park, the court heard.
The inquest, held at Chelmsford County Hall, continues.
Miss Gumble cared for her two children from a previous relationship and Mr Pickard, who she met in summer 2007, worked in the family's swimming pool maintenance firm.

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Katie Gumble and Dean Pickard were killed at Harlow Mill station in Essex
A court official said the couple were seen walking away from Miss Gumble's home shortly before 0600 BST on the day they died.
Shortly afterwards they bought vodka from a Tesco store and were seen drinking it nearby.
At about 0800 BST they were hit by the train at Harlow Mill Station.
Miss Gumble's mother, Sally, told jurors her daughter had alcohol problems and had started drinking following the death of her father in 2000.
"As time went by her drinking became out of control," Mrs Gumble said.
"(She) had become a total alcoholic."
Mr Pickard's mother, Sharon, said in statement that he too had been hugely affected by the death of his father, but she could find no reason why he would have wanted to kill himself.
Source: BBC News

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