A harrowing scene unfolded on the night of 28 August 2025 when Tia Langdon, 25, fell from a third-floor balcony in Southampton, resulting in her tragic death the following day. According to the prosecution, Ms Langdon was attempting to escape an alleged attacker who had accused her and a friend, Shannon McNeil, of stealing drugs.
Jaiden Hassan-Agard, 19, of Stour Close, Southampton, has denied nine charges related to two women, including manslaughter, false imprisonment, and assault. The court heard that Ms Langdon was so terrified she believed going over the balcony was her only option for escape.
Prosecutor Sarah Jones KC described in detail how Ms Langdon landed on concrete, sustaining severe injuries to her head, torso, and limbs. Evidence also revealed facial injuries consistent with being punched. The court was told that Ms Langdon and Ms McNeil were allegedly assisting Mr Hassan-Agard with drug packing at Ms McNeil's flat when the accusation of theft was made.
The prosecutor alleged that Mr Hassan-Agard, also known as Rocco, initially expressed his anger by stabbing a water bottle before punching Ms Langdon in the face and threatening her with two machetes. This prompted Ms Langdon's attempt to escape via the balcony. Ms Jones KC posed to the jury: "How frightened do you have to be, how trapped do you have to feel, to be moved to the conclusion that going over the balcony was your best option?"
Mr Hassan-Agard denies charges of manslaughter and assault causing actual bodily harm in connection with Ms Langdon. He also faces denials for threatening to kill both women, threatening them with an offensive weapon in private, and falsely imprisoning them. Additionally, he has pleaded not guilty to a charge of kidnapping Ms McNeil. The trial is expected to continue for approximately four weeks.