Girl bullies guilty of fall death

Rosimeiri Boxall fell to her death from a third-floor window

Two teenage girls have been found guilty of causing the death of a vicar's daughter who jumped from a window in south-east London.

Kemi Ajose, 19, and Hatice Can, 15, were found guilty of the manslaughter of 19-year-old Rosimeiri Boxall.

Miss Boxall died after falling from the third-floor window of Ajose's flat.

She was beaten and bullied by the teenagers, the Old Bailey was told. Rosimeiri's parents said they have forgiven the two girls.

The judge lifted an order banning identification of the younger defendant Can, of Belvedere, south-east London.

'Forgive them'

Following the verdict, Rosimeiri's parents Simon and Rachel Boxall released a statement saying they "forgave" Ajose and Can.

"We continue to pray for those who are responsible for Rosi's death. We want them to know that we forgive them.

Simon Boxall says he forgives the killers but they 'need to face up to the consequences'

"That does not mean that what they did 'doesn't matter'. Of course it does," the statement continued.

"For justice to be seen to be done, it had to happen and those responsible have to face up to the consequences of their choices."

The two teenagers, who were 17 and 13 at the time, blamed each other for telling Miss Boxall to jump when she climbed up to the window after she was attacked.

Roger Smart, prosecuting, said the three had been arguing over a boy.

Part of the attack on Miss Boxall by Ajose, from Coleraine Road, Blackheath, which was filmed by a neighbour on a mobile phone, was played to the jury.

The video showed her hair being pulled and hairspray aimed at her face. The sound of her being slapped and punched could also be heard in the film.

'Physical abuse'

The Old Bailey heard how they each claimed the other had said "yes" when Miss Boxall asked: "Do you want me to jump?"

"Rosie leapt to her death from the kitchen window of Kemi's flat to escape from a prolonged period of physical and verbal abuse," said Roger Smart QC.

Kemi Ajose is being held in a psychiatric hospital

"Immediately before Rosie fell, she was clearly in fear of being hurt physically.

"This fear caused her to leap out of the window, as a result of which she met her death."

Can was said by witnesses to have shouted insults at Miss Boxall as she lay dying.

The girls had previously beaten her up during at least two incidents on 17 May last year while she did nothing to defend herself, the court heard.

'Tragic consequences'

Following the verdict Det Insp Bob Meade said outside court: "Bullying is neither normal nor acceptable.

"This case highlights the extent to which victims of bullying may go in order to escape their tormentors - sometimes with tragic consequences.

"Bullying needs to be taken seriously and I would urge the victims of bullying to please don't 'just put up with it'."

Ms Boxall, who was born in Brazil, was adopted by an Anglican missionary, the Reverend Simon Boxall, and his wife Rachel, who found her in a children's home where she had been abandoned by her alcoholic mother.

The family returned to the UK in 2005 and settled in Thamesmead, south-east London.

Following the verdict, Ajose was remanded back to the psychiatric hospital where she was being held. Can was remanded into the care of her local authority.

The teenagers are due to be sentenced on 15 December.