The grieving family of a “kind and caring” man who died after being attacked while travelling home from Notting Hill Carnival have said he was only months away from marrying his fiancée.
Thomas Jewitt, who worked in the affordable housing sector, suffered serious head injuries after he was set upon on the Central Line platform at Liverpool Street station during the August bank holiday weekend.
The 32-year-old had attended the family day at Notting Hill Carnival before the incident. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died three days later.
His family said they remain in disbelief that he was “taken from us” earlier this month, as they released a photograph showing him smiling while on holiday.
Relatives were at Mr Jewitt’s bedside when he died, shortly before he was due to wed his girlfriend.
“We can’t believe that Tom has been taken from us. Tom was fun-loving, caring and kind. He always looked out for others and made them feel better,” his family said in a statement.
“He had a successful career in affordable housing, and a bright future that was taken away from him too soon. He was excited about marrying his fiancée next year.
“Tom is deeply loved by his family, his many, many friends and his work colleagues. We will draw what strength we can from the wonderful memories we have of Tom.”
Jeremiah Maximo, 38, a British national from Barking, was previously charged with grievous bodily harm on September 1 and had been scheduled to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.
After Mr Jewitt’s death, British Transport Police said officers would seek to amend the charge. The defendant is now expected to appear before the court at a later date.
His GBH charge could now be amended to one of murder or manslaughter.
Thomas Jewitt was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died three days later
Thomas was assaulted at Liverpool Street Station (pictured) while making his way home from Notting Hill Carnival
Police rushed to reports of a ‘serious assault’ at Liverpool Street station’s Central Line platform at 10.51pm on Sunday, August 30.
It is thought Tom attended the west London carnival’s ‘family day’ and he had been making his way from the event when he was attacked.
The August Bank Holiday weekend marked the 60th anniversary of Notting Hill Carnival, with between one and two million revellers thought to have attended the event.
BTP Detective Superintendent Sam Blackburn said: ‘First and foremost our thoughts are firmly with the loved ones of the young man who has sadly died. They are being supported by specially trained officers as our investigation continues.
‘We continue to appeal to anyone who saw what happened and has not yet spoken to police to come forward and assist our investigation. Any piece of information could be vital to us.’
In a previous statement, Mr Blackburn said: ‘We know the victim was travelling back from Notting Hill Carnival at the time of the incident.’
Notting Hill Carnival saw a record 636 arrests in 2026 as the number of people detained increased for the fourth consecutive year.
A total of 242 arrests took place at the festival in west London on the Sunday and 394 on the Monday- with offences ranging from possession of drugs and weapons to assaults, including attacks on emergency workers and sexual offences.
The 636 arrests across the two-day event were up from 528 last year, and 334 the year before that.
Live facial recognition technology resulted in 121 arrests and 86 registered sex offenders being stopped.
Seven of the sex offenders were found to be breaching their conditions and were arrested.
Stop and search resulted in 68 weapons, including a handgun, being found. There were two assaults with knives, one stabbing and one slashing, neither of which resulted in life-threatening injuries.
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea estimates its annual clean-up and staffing bill for the event as £1million, of which it sees around £300,000 back in street trader fees.
Police officers at work at the Notting Hill Carnival this year
Notting Hill Carnival attracts millions of people each year over the two days, with partygoers seen climbing on top of bus stops and engaging in racy dancing.
Organisers insist the carnival is safe and labelled criticism of it ‘unfair’.
But it has been marred by tragedy in recent years – including the 2024 murder of young mother Cher Maximen – and widespread drug use, with discarded nitrous oxide canisters a common sight on the streets.
Ms Maximen, 32, was murdered in front of her three-year-old daughter – one of eight stabbings in and around the festival that year.
Her killer Shakeil Thibou was jailed for life. Thibou had lunged at a man with a zombie knife at the festival and fell into a crowd of people including Ms Maximen. As he swung his blade, he stabbed her in the groin while she was shielding her child.
Mussie Imnetu was also murdered close to the carnival in 2024 by Omar Wilson, who lied to police that he had acted in self-defence as he punched and kicked Mr Imnetu in Queensway, which borders Notting Hill, and delivered kicks to his head.
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