Leo Barber was just 16 years old when he was killed by a train in Bromley, southeast London – and it’s emerged he had visited a suicide forum in the lead up to his death
A coroner has issued a warning after Google declined to provide the online activity of a teenage boy who had been looking at suicide forums.
Leo Barber died on November 28, 2023, after he was hit by a train in Bromley, southeast London. An inquest heard the 16-year-old had opened an account using his Gmail on website promoting suicide after a severe deterioration in his mental health.
But assistant coroner for South London Edmund Gritt has now revealed that when he asked Google for access to Leo’s online activity, he was told it wasn’t legally possible.
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Writing in a prevention of future deaths report released last week, Mr Gritt said the tech giant failed to provide evidence under Section 101 of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Google’s position was that it is not within the jurisdiction of England and Wales but the US, and subject to the laws there – which prohibit compliance, the coroner said.
Mr Gritt said Leo’s parents were able to provide probable passwords, and his investigation could continue. But without that, the probe may have been “incomplete”.
Mr Gritt said: “I express no view either way on any legal issue as to conflict of laws. As I noted, but for the happenstance that Leo’s parents were able to provide the police with Leo’s believed usernames and passwords, my investigation would have been frustrated and incomplete in respect of a matter of grave concern.
“The risk that future coronial investigations might be so frustrated does itself give rise to the risk of future deaths, in that coronial investigations cumulatively mitigate the risk of such deaths.
“I am therefore concerned that there is a risk of future deaths where vulnerable individuals in England and Wales may access potentially harmful online material from a service provider not within the jurisdiction of England and Wales.”
The website Leo visited acted as a forum for people to discuss methods of suicide and to share information on the mechanics of how to end their lives, Mr Gritt said.
He said: “It would seem that he came to the site because he was already subject to suicidal ideation, but for an extremely vulnerable person such as Leo it would provide an environment in which he might find collective approval for taking the step of ending his life and be reinforced in that step by that approval.
“I am concerned that there is a risk of future deaths among those in mental health crisis including children while such material is accessible to vulnerable individuals online.”
Shortly after his death, Leo’s family said via British Transport Police: “Leo was an incredibly bright, sensitive, funny and loving boy with the world at his feet and could have achieved anything he put his mind to.
“He will be incredibly missed as our son, big brother, nephew, grandson and friend. Leo had struggled with his mental health for several months and was under the care of medical professionals at the time of his passing.
“We are truly devastated and heartbroken as a family with the loss of our beautiful Leo. Our lives will truly never be the same again and we will carry his memory forward as we fight for change for those affected by Autism and mental health.”
Leo’s inquest concluded in September, and the short-form conclusion was suicide. Mr Gritt published his prevention of future deaths report on October 9.
The Mirror has reached out to Google for comment.
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
