Elizabeth line worker died after punch, court told

An Elizabeth line railway worker died after being punched with significant force by a passenger at Ilford station, Inner London Crown Court heard. Jorge Ortega, 61, hit his head on the concrete platform and died two days later, on 6 December 2024, from a severe traumatic brain injury. The incident occurred on 4 December 2024.

Ayodele Jamgbadi, 30, of Kingston Road, Ilford, is charged with Ortega's murder. The court was informed on Tuesday that Jamgbadi is mentally unwell and not fit to enter a plea or participate in his trial. He is currently receiving hospital treatment for his condition.

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The jury's task

Judge Benedict Kelleher instructed the jury that their role is to determine whether Jamgbadi "did the act" that caused Ortega's death. This is known as a trial of issues. The jury must consider if Jamgbadi delivered the punch and if it was a substantial factor in Ortega's fatal injury.

Prosecutor Patrick Dennis told the court that Jamgbadi was arrested the day after the attack. He reportedly told officers at the time, "I punched him in the face. Are you going to nick me then?"

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The incident at Ilford station

The court heard that Ortega, who worked as a customer experience assistant for MTREL, the operator of the Elizabeth line, was one of three staff members who approached Jamgbadi. They had heard banging noises and observed him kicking an advertising frame on the platform. CCTV footage presented to the jury showed Jamgbadi walking away from the staff before turning back and approaching Ortega. The prosecutor stated, "It is at that stage he punched Jorge Ortega with significant force."

A co-worker of Ortega, Mohammed Alim, testified that he witnessed a man punch Ortega near the temple area. Alim told the court, "The impact of the punch was with so much force that I saw something fly out of his mouth. He was floored. He hit the back of his head."

Ortega was taken into an office by colleagues and members of the public. Alim stated that Ortega was "going in and out of consciousness" following the incident.

Pathologist Dr Michael Parsons concluded that Ortega's head injury was "entirely consistent with a substantial impact to the back of the head caused by a heavy fall from a standing height," the jury was told.