The father of a former BBC journalist who died after being hit by a train has criticised a coroner for ruling her death as a suicide.
Mother-of-two Kelly Jobanputra, 40, from Swindon, Wiltshire, left her home to go shopping on April 26 but died after stepping on to a railway line into the path of an oncoming train, an inquest heard.
The hearing concluded that Mrs Jobanputra, who spent 15 years presenting on local BBC radio stations before heading to London to work for Radio 6 Music, had taken her life – which her family say ignores their views about her actions being a cry for help.
Father John Stooke, 72, from Swindon has since written a 16-page document about what his daughter’s decision-making process would have been on that fateful day.
Former BBC journalist Kelly Jobanputra (pictured), 40, from Swindon, Wiltshire, died after being hit by a train on April 26
Father John Stooke (pictured), 72, from Swindon, said he had hoped for a narrative verdict and has since written a 16-page document about what his daughter’s decision-making process would have been
He said he had hoped for a narrative verdict as it would have reassured his daughter’s children.
He also claims their fears were ignored at the inquest held earlier this month.
He said: ‘We are all very upset by the coroner’s conclusion because we were only given time to list our points without explaining them, then he dismissed most of what we said as mere opinion.
‘This included the fact that she packed an overnight bag and took it with her, she drove into Old Town [in Swindon] to request a change to her care plan, and she left no suicide note.
‘Those points and others would have given her children hope that she did not deliberately leave them.
‘They don’t understand it and can’t process it, and explaining it to them has been very difficult and upsetting for all of us.
‘She was the best mum ever, so loving and attentive to her son and daughter who were her driving motivation for getting well, as she told us over and over again – which was noted during the inquest.
However assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Ian Singleton (pictured), told the inquest that the location of Mrs Jobanputra’s death was so isolated it could not be a cry for help
Mrs Jobanputra, who spent 15 years presenting on local BBC radio stations before heading to London to work for Radio 6 Music, died on April 26 at around 3pm after being struck by a train between Swindon and Didcot Parkway
‘The Kelly we knew would not have let her children grow up without her being there.
‘We know how she thought and behaved and what she would do because she had done things like this before and this latest incident was part of that pattern.
‘This is not a case of stupid parents not being able to accept what happened. We accept what happened but the process that led to this verdict was unjust.
‘Rather than a simplistic suicide verdict, we wanted a narrative verdict which would act as an official record saying that while it was likely a suicide, they could not be 100 per cent certain because there are factors which suggest otherwise.’
Described as ‘vibrant, attractive and courageous’ by her family, Mrs Jobanputra died on April 26 at around 3pm after being struck by a train between Swindon and Didcot Parkway just months after giving birth to her second child.
The former presenter (pictured with her husband Vikesh) was described as ‘vibrant, attractive and courageous’ by her family
The mother-of-two (pictured with daughter Mya and her second child) had given birth to her second child just months before her death
Her father said the radio presenter had gone to Asda earlier in the day before ringing him to ask if he could pick up her daughter from school.
However Ian Singleton, assistant coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, told the inquest that the death could not be a cry for help because the location was so isolated that no-one would have seen her.
The CCTV on the train was, unusually, not working, so the driver’s vivid description of Kelly’s final moments is the main witness account of how she died.
But Mr Stooke said: ‘There are far more isolated bridges along the railway line and there are cars flowing across that one all the time, so I believe Kelly hoped someone would notice her climbing over the parapet and have her taken into a secure facility.
‘The driver was in shock, and we don’t blame him, so he may not be 100 per cent certain about what he saw.
Mrs Jobanputra’s father said the former journalist had gone to Asda earlier in the day before ringing him to ask if he could pick up her daughter from school
The former BBC journalist (pictured with husband Vikesh) was described as ‘forever beautiful’ by her husband
‘Plus, Kelly only had a few cuts and abrasions, and no skull fractures, after being hit – the damage should have been much greater.
‘Maybe she tried to get out of the way but it was too late.’
Testimony from a mental health consultant and Kelly’s GP revealed that she had talked about suicidal thoughts similar to how she later died, worried about the side effects of medication she was taking and complained of nausea and bowel issues.
Mr Stooke added: ‘The inquest said our family were key to her support network yet we knew nothing about the concerns she raised.
‘If we had, I would not have let her out of the house alone.
‘They should have kept us more involved, with Kelly’s permission of course, because we didn’t see the changes in her that the health professionals described.’
Mrs Jobanputra lost her brother Corrie (pictured) when he died of an accidental heroin overdose 15 years ago at the age of 31
The last point of contention is that the guidelines for the standard of proof needed for a suicide verdict was lowered by a rule change that came into force three months after the former journalist died.
The coroner noted that, had the original stricter rules still applied, his verdict may have been different.
The rule change is currently being appealed and Mr Stooke plans to fight this inquest’s verdict if the change is reversed.
Mrs Jobanputra, who had previously raised funds for post-natal depression charities and written about how serious the condition is, lost her brother Corrie when he died of an accidental heroin overdose 15 years ago at the age of 31.
Mr Stooke previously spoke about how the death of her brother had a profound effect on Kelly, telling The Sun: ‘She was able to present a facade that covered it up but inside it wasn’t easy for her.’
Mrs Jobanputra spent 15 years presenting on local BBC radio stations before heading to London to produce a daytime show for Radio 6 Music.
Better known under her maiden name of Kelly Stooke, which she often used as a byline even after she got married, she regularly wrote reviews for the Swindon Advertiser and freelanced for the website 365 Bristol.
She is survived by her husband Vikesh and two children.
For confidential help and support 24 hours a day, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org