CHILLING eyewitness accounts detailing how a young woman took her own life by standing in front of an express train, left a court stunned this week.

The final moments leading up to the death of Angela Jones were recounted by three witnesses who saw her walk onto the track at Harpenden Station as a train approached at 70mph.

They all confirmed that 24-year-old Miss Jones, of Pondsmeade, Redbourn, stood between the rails and faced the train as it approached.

She put her hands behind her head and then turned around seconds before it hit her.

Eyewitness Peter Davies was standing on the opposite platform when he saw Miss Jones walk on to the track.

He told the court: "At first I thought she was crossing the track because she staggered. Then she stood in the middle of the rails and faced the train. She stood very still and as the train got closer she raised her hands and turned around. Then I turned my head away."

Another witness Paul James said: "She took no evasive action."

St Albans Coroner's Court was told that Miss Jones began suffering depression after a relationship with her boyfriend, Stuart Webb, started to break down.

In April last year, she took an overdose and was put on a course of anti-depressants.

In October, Mr Webb told her that the relationship was over.

He told the court: "She was very upset, but she remained calm. She seemed OK."

On October 30, Mr Webb was told that Miss Jones had not turned up for work. He drove to their home in Redbourn and found a note.

He called the police but as he was on the telephone a police officer arrived at his door to tell him what had happened. Mr Webb, who had been separated from his wife, met Miss Jones at work. They were working for an insurance company in London and she had started to enjoy success in her role as an underwriter.

The court heard that she had achieved promotion and was rapidly climbing the career ladder in the insurance business.

A statement from Miss Jones' parents said the couple seemed happy and were planning a future together.

Coroner Edward Thomas told a jury: "It is quite clear she was an extremely competent and capable woman in her employment. She achieved a degree of promotion well beyond anyone else in that company.

"But a relationship, that was extremely important to her, had come to an end. I have a lot of sympathy for the family of Miss Jones and those who saw what happened."

A jury recorded a verdict that Miss Jones killed herself.

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