UK: Murder inquiry 'after woman pushed under Tube train'

[John Ashworth]

Murder inquiry 'after woman pushed under Tube train at Kings Cross station during joke'

A murder investigation has been launched after a woman was allegedly pushed in front of a Tube train at London’s biggest station during a “joke” with a friend.

By Andrew Hough
Published: 6:30AM BST 26 Oct 2010
Daily Telegraph

The woman, who has not been named, fell under the eastbound Piccadilly line train at Kings Cross St Pancras, north London, during the evening rush hour.

Witnesses claimed the friend had been “pushing and pulling” her.

British Transport Police detectives arrested a 34-year-old woman, who has not been identified, at the underground station on suspicion of murder. She was being questioned at a north London police station.

The incident, at 6.30pm, caused travel chaos as the line was closed. It is one of the capital's busiest lines as it services both London's Heathrow airport and the Eurostar international train service.

One witness, who only gave her name as Emma, told The Daily Telegraph that she saw the pair “pushing and pulling as a joke” on the platform.

“A whole carriage passed before it stopped and as the woman went down, the two bags I had with me were dragged away with her under the train,” said the student, who had been reading on the platform.

A spokesman for British Transport police said: "Emergency services were called to Kings Cross underground station at just after 6.30pm this evening, Monday 25 October, following reports of a person under a Piccadilly line train.

"Detectives from British Transport Police have since launched a murder investigation following the death of a person, who is yet to be identified.

"Officers remain at the scene and are working to recover the body."

Detective superintendent, Ashley Croft, the senior investigating officer, added: "This happened at a busy time during the evening commute and I appeal to anyone who saw what happened on the eastbound platform of the Piccadilly Line to get in contact with us.

"I would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding and all London underground staff who assisted the emergency services in dealing with what happened in a professional and dignified manner."

He said a 34-year-old woman, from Cricklewood, north London, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.

Next of kin were yet to be informed. The body was still being recovered late on Monday night.

[John Ashworth]

Woman charged with tube station murder remanded in custody

Nina Kanagasingham is charged with murdering cross-dresser Sonia Burgess, 63, who was struck by a train at King's Cross

* Press Association
* guardian.co.uk, Monday 1 November 2010 11.32 GMT

A woman who is undergoing a sex change appeared in court today accused of pushing a cross-dresser under a train.

Nina Kanagasingham, 34, of Cricklewood, north-west London, sat in the dock at the Old Bailey.

Judge Timothy Pontius asked: "This defendant is in the process of undergoing a sex change. Has it been completed?"

He was told it had not, and that the defendant wished to be referred to as Nina.

Kanagasingham is charged with murdering Sonia Burgess, 63, who was struck by a train at King's Cross underground station during evening rush-hour last Monday.

Burgess was a human rights lawyer known professionally as David.

Kanagasingham was remanded in custody for a plea and case management hearing on 3 February next year. No bail application was made.