A London Underground passenger allegedly killed an Elizabeth Line worker with a single punch after becoming enraged over missing a train, a court has heard.
Ayodele Jamgbadi, 29, of Kingston Road in Ilford, is accused of the murder of Jorge Ortega, 61, an “adored” father.
The alleged incident unfolded at about 8.45pm on December 4, 2024, after Jamgbadi missed a service from Ilford Station to Stratford. Prosecutors say he reacted by kicking an advertising display frame.
Mr Ortega and two fellow Transport for London employees stepped in and attempted to defuse the situation, Inner London Crown Court was told.
But Jamgbadi is alleged to have struck the 61-year-old once in the face, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious.
Mr Ortega was rushed to hospital following the alleged assault, but died from his injuries two days later.
Jamgbadi was first charged with grievous bodily harm, before the allegation was changed to murder after Mr Ortega’s death.
Judge Benedict Kelleher told jurors that Jamgbadi is unfit to enter a plea. Their role, he said, is therefore to decide whether he carried out the alleged act.
Jorge Ortega, 61, an “adored” father, allegedly died after being punched in the face.
Ayodele Jamgbadi, 29, of Kingston Road, Ilford, is accused of murdering Mr Ortega after allegedly missing his Stratford-bound train.
Inner London Crown Court heard that Mr Ortega and two other Transport for London colleagues then intervened and tried to calm the irate passenger down
He said: ‘He is unfit to plead which means that he is not mentally well enough to stand trial and he is in hospital for that reason.
Patrick Dennis, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Ortega was on duty at the time of the incident.
He said: ‘The defendant arrived at the railway station. CCTV shows that he missed the train heading into London to Stratford.
‘After he missed the train the defendant effectively kicked an advert frame.
‘As a result Mr Ortega and two other staff members came out of the office and they effectively tried to calm Mr Jamgbadi down.
‘As Mr Ortega retreated backward the defendant punched him once in the face and that caused Mr Ortega to fall onto the platform and strike his head and that rendered him unconscious.
‘The defendant displayed aggressive behaviour.’
Mr Dennis said an ambulance arrived and Mr Ortega was taken to hospital but ’48 hours after the incident he tragically died’.
Jamgbadi was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm but that was upgraded to murder after Mr Ortega died
Patrick Dennis, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Ortega was on duty at the time of the incident
Following his arrest, Jamgbadi told British Transport Police officers: ‘I punched him in the face, I literally punched him in the face.
‘What are you going to do about it, are you going to nick me?’
Mr Ortega was a member of the RMT union and worked as a customer experience assistant for MTREL, which runs the Elizabeth line.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch expressed his condolences to Mr Ortega’s family after the attack.
Then-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the incident was ‘absolutely tragic’.
In a tribute, Mr Ortega’s son said: ‘Our dad was the most loving person, the kindest soul you could have the pleasure of meeting.
‘Everyone who has met our dad or who has ever worked with him over the years will tell you this.
‘He had a brilliant mind, enjoyed cooking, loved drawing, and was highly skilled in art.
‘He was an amazing family man and would always put other people first. He loved his grandchildren, and in turn, they adored our dad.’
The trial continues.