The family of a Southampton woman told the court of the devastating impact of her death after she fell from a third-floor balcony while fleeing threats and violence.
Jaiden Hassan-Agard, 20, appeared at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday, October 22, for sentencing after being convicted of the manslaughter of 25-year-old Tia Langdon, who fell from a balcony in Cuckmere Lane on august 28 last year.
The hearing opened with four statements from Ms Langdon’s family about the impact of her death.
Her sister Danni told the court: "Tia was not just our sister, she was our best friend", and said the family had lost "our big sister, our role model".
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She added: "There is an empty place in our family that will never be filled. The person that took Tia away from us didn't take away just one life. We love you Tia and we always will."
A statement read by prosecutor Sarah Jones KC on behalf of Tia’s other sister, Casey, described the lasting impact of her death: "I miss her laugh, her smile, the way she could make everything better by just being there.
"Life has never been the same without her. Although therapy has helped me learn to cope with my grief the pain of losing Tia has never gone away."
Tia's fathers statement, which was also read to the court, mentioned the hole left in his life by her death, adding: "Her life mattered. She mattered."
Finally Ms Jones read a statement on the behalf of Tia's mother, Rebecca Spacagna, which said: "Part of me died with her" and described waking up each day knowing she would never hear her daughter's voice again.
In an account of events, Ms Jones told the the court that Hassan-Agard became enraged after accusing Ms Langdon and another woman of stealing about £250 worth of drugs from him, the court heard.
The court heard that both women endured 30 to 45 minutes of threats, intimidation and violence.
He threatened the women with two machetes, damaged the flat and punched Ms Langdon, breaking her nose.
Ms Langdon became increasingly distressed and tried to escape the flat, the prosecutor said.
She initially returned from the balcony but later ran back outside and fell from the building.
She was taken to hospital but died from her injuries the following day.
The court heard that Hassan-Agard’s violence and threats drove Ms Langdon to flee.
Ms Jones said aggravating factors included the use of weapons, the prolonged attack, attempts to conceal evidence and both victims’ vulnerability.
Mitigating on the behalf of Hassan-Agard, Nicholas Haggan KC said he was 18 at the time and had been assessed as having low maturity.
He said Hassan-Agard suffered childhood trauma, was exploited in county lines drug dealing from age 11, carried a knife from 13 and was later recognised as a modern slavery victim.
He said Hassan-Agard had shown remorse, stayed drug-free in custody and hoped to become a personal trainer after release.
Mr Haggan urged the court to impose a sentence that would not "crush the defendant nor cause him to lose hope for the future".
Mrs Justice Tipples adjourned the hearing and will sentence Hassan-Agard on the morning of October 23.
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