Will Robbins, 49, watched his 23-year-old son Joshua plunge to his death from a balcony at Holland and Thurston Dwellings in Holborn, central London, on 29 January. Joshua had ordered a pizza to share with his father and leant on the railings to check for the delivery when they are said to have collapsed.
The Metropolitan Police is now investigating the incident as possible corporate manslaughter, a pre-inquest review heard on Tuesday. Detective Inspector Mark Paterson told St Pancras Coroner’s Court that the scene was examined at the time, a forensic engineer attended, and CCTV has been obtained. He said Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA), which owns the building, “are fully compliant with requests that are being made at this stage”.
“Father watched 23-year-old Joshua Robbins fall to his death after balcony railings collapsed in Holborn.”
The force is liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service as the investigation continues. DI Paterson said he hoped to provide an update to the court by January, and senior coroner Mary Hassell scheduled another pre-inquest review for 6 January 2027.
Joshua’s mother, Fiona Garrett, 46, who lives in Claudy, Co Londonderry but is originally from Essex, has been campaigning for answers. She contacted her son’s local MP, former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, requesting a meeting. In a reply, Sir Keir signed the letter personally, prompting her ex-husband Will to say: “oh my god the prime minister knows who our son was”. Fiona said she would “even write to the King if I had to. The point is that he did matter, and he does matter, and everyone’s child should matter.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “At this time our investigation remains ongoing, and we continue to liaise with the Crown Prosecution Service while enquiries continue. These enquiries can take some time given the nature of the investigation and complexities. Joshua’s family continue to be updated as the investigation continues and remain supported by specialist officers.”
