Vicar's daughter 'jumped to her death from third floor window to escape girl gang'
Last updated at 15:37pm on 19.05.08
Desperate: Rosimeiri Boxall, 19, fell from a third-floor window
Rosimeiri Boxall, 19, is believed to have leapt 50 feet after being held against her will in a flat.
The girls, aged 13 and 17, were arrested on suspicion of murder and have been released on bail.
Detectives initially feared Ms Boxall could have been pushed to her death but now believe she jumped.
They are trying to establish what happened in the room that drove her to take such a drastic measure.
Police have recovered mobile phones and are examining the possibility she was photographed during her ordeal.
Ms Boxall was found lying below an open window of the house, which is divided into flats and used as temporary accommodation for the homeless.
Detectives from Scotland Yard's Homicide and Serious Crime squad are investigating.
Neighbours said a "very loud and extreme" argument had broken out moments before Ms Boxall fell from the flats in Blackheath, South East London.
Ms Boxall, whose father the Rev Simon Boxall is vicar at the Open Gateway Community Church in Thamesmead, was taken to the nearby Queen Elizabeth hospital with severe injuries but her heart stopped on the way and she was pronounced dead.
A post mortem examination gave the cause of death as internal injuries.
A neighbour said a number of people had been shouting at each other at around 6.30pm on Saturday.
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The spot where Rosimeiri Boxall plunged to her death
He said: "It was very loud, a real racket, and sounded very extreme, so I thought I should call the police.
"I heard a bloke shouting outside, incredibly loudly. He was saying something like, 'Don't touch her, leave her alone'.
"It sounded like two blokes and a girl all shouting at each other. I thought one bloke was standing up for the girl. Then there was an almighty crashing sound, like metal on concrete.
"The argument carried on for five to 10 minutes until the ambulance arrived. There were 30-odd cops in the street after that so I knew it must have been
serious."
Kelly Keagan, who lives opposite the halfway house, saw Ms Boxall being treated by paramedics.
She said: "She was on the floor out the front and they were trying to resuscitate her. They were pumping for about 20 minutes and I saw the two girls in the van. It was horrific. You could see blood on the paving and there were people from the house standing around with their mouths open."
Today Miss Boxall's family, including four brothers, spoke of their loss. They revealed she had left home some time ago and had no fixed address.
The teenager was adopted when her father worked in Rio de Janiero and attended the British School in a suburb of the city. The family returned to Britain in 2004.
Her brother, Josh, said she had been living at several addresses with various friends but they were unsure as to where she has been staying lately.
He said: "Rosimeiri was doing a childcare course at Plumstead College but had dropped out. We know she was looking for a job but know nothing more than that.
"She would visit and phone quite irregularly so we didn't know exactly where she was staying."
Miss Boxall's father said he was unaware as to what she was doing at the halfway house.
The Rev Boxall, 53, said: "I don't know what she was doing there. She was obviously at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Ms Boxall was said to have been visiting a friend at the address. In a statement her family said today: "The loss of Rosimeiri, a much-loved sister and daughter, has left a void in this closeknit family that cannot be filled.
"Rosi was adopted but she was our daughter and sister. She was a loving, caring person who brought frequently-remembered times of fun and laughter to the family and who was much loved by her three nieces.
"More than just a daughter and sister, she was also a great friend who will always be missed. We appreciate everything the police are doing in investigating this tragic incident."
Neighbours in the street where Miss Boxall died said they were frequently disturbed by noise and shouting from the half-way house and that many of its inhabitants seemed very young, often seen sitting on window ledges and playing music.
Today the house was empty after being cleared by police. Bins were full of empty vodka and whisky bottles.
Detective Inspector Bob Meade, leading the investigation, said the incident was being treated as suspicious, but they were keeping an "open mind".
"Her family are distraught. Rosimeiri was a young girl. She suffered fatal injuries, we presume falling from the building. I can't say whether she had been drinking alcohol or taking drugs.
"I understand there were people outside shortly before this took place and I would encourage them, and anyone else who was in the area at the time to provide any information they can."
Scotland Yard said: "Two females, aged 13 and 17, arrested in connection with the death of Rosimeiri Boxall, have been bailed to return to a south London police station on a date in June pending further inquiries."