A mother has vowed to fight for justice for her 15-year-old daughter who was electrocuted on railway tracks, as the coroner says police failings may be to blame.
A jury will decide whether the actions of police officers led to the death of Roxy Phillips, who died on the railway tracks in Weymouth, Dorset.
Roxy’s mother Kerri Walker today vowed to fight for justice, even if it ‘takes 10 years’.
An inquest into the death of Roxy will be heard by a jury after the senior coroner said there was reason to suspect the acts or omissions of police were causative or contributory to her death.
Roxy died in the early hours of March 23, 2023 after she was electrocuted by the 750-volt third rail on the tracks near Weymouth train station.
Emergency services rushed to the scene but Roxy was pronounced dead at 2.25am.
A pre-inquest review into her death was held at Dorset Coroners Court today, but the full inquest will be heard in a year’s time on November 17, 2025.
A number of agencies were involved in the inquest including Dorset Police, British Transport Police (BTP), Network Rail, South Western Railway, Dorset Council and Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.
Roxy Phillips, 15, died on the railway tracks in Weymouth, Dorset, on March 23, 2023
Pictured is the train line going from Weymouth to Dorchester
Roxy’s mother Kerri Walker today vowed to fight for justice, even if it ‘takes ten years’
Senior Coroner Rachel Griffin said there was reason to suspect the actions of police officers could have caused Roxy’s death, which requires a jury inquest to be held.
Mrs Griffin said: ‘CCTV captured Roxy at Weymouth train station at around 12.57am and showed her walking onto the tracks.
‘A minute later a member of the public called Dorset Police to report a person on the railway line.
‘Dorset Police notified Network Rail of a member of the public on the line and requested the electricity to be switched off.
‘Officers from Dorset Police were called to investigate the report of trespassers and arrived at the scene at 1.15am.
‘At 1.17am officers reported that they could not see anyone on the tracks. They thought there was no point going onto the tracks as there is multiple places that people can leave the tracks.
‘Dorset Police stood down and handed the incident over to British Transport Police (BTP).
‘In line with Network Rail procedures, the emergency switch off was lifted after no trespassers were found.
‘At 2.06am paramedics were called to Roxy’s aid, but she died at the scene.
Roxy’s mother said: ‘Every day is a struggle. I have lost my 15-year-old daughter and my best friend.
‘I don’t care if it takes 10 years as long as we get justice then I am happy.
‘I am not working and sometimes I don’t leave the house because I am so depressed, everyday is a struggle waking up without Roxy.
‘Her friends are so supportive, my sister has been very supportive and a lot of people in Weymouth have been very good to me as well.
‘Roxy lit up the room, she had so many friends and she was loved, she just had a good night.
‘She was incredibly loyal to her friends and she was such a loving person.
‘She had such an impact on her friends, they still come to my house and sit and talk to her ashes as if she is still here.
‘A lot of them have tattoos of her, they look after me as well.
‘She was really loved, there were people queueing out of the door for her funeral.
‘I am not living, I am just existing. I live in denial because I don’t want to believe that I am never going to see her again.’