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Banksy's rival King Robbo died of head injury, inquest hears | Banksy's rival King Robbo died of head injury, inquest hears |
(35 minutes later) | |
Banksy's rival, the grafitti artist King Robbo, was found in a pool of blood at the foot of a flight of stairs at his London home, an inquest heard. | |
The father of three, whose real name is John Robertson, was placed in a medically induced coma in April 2011. | The father of three, whose real name is John Robertson, was placed in a medically induced coma in April 2011. |
But a coroner found there was "no suggestion of foul play" in the fall apparently suffered by the 44-year-old artist, who died in July. | |
She said there was "not enough evidence" to explain the incident. | She said there was "not enough evidence" to explain the incident. |
King Robbo was found lying in a pool of blood outside his flat in King's Cross and died of pneumonia caused by a traumatic brain injury. | |
'Lying on the ground' | 'Lying on the ground' |
Recording an open verdict at his inquest, Mary Hassell, senior coroner for Inner North London Court, said: "There is insufficient evidence to allow me to decide any other determination," as first reported in the Camden New Journal. | |
King Robbo, a towering figure at 6ft 8in (2.03m), climbed to fame as one of the early leaders of the graffiti movement in the UK and the US in the 1980s. | King Robbo, a towering figure at 6ft 8in (2.03m), climbed to fame as one of the early leaders of the graffiti movement in the UK and the US in the 1980s. |
Mr Robertson was spotted by passers-by lying outside his flat four months before a Channel Four documentary focused on the rivalry between him and Banksy was due to air. | Mr Robertson was spotted by passers-by lying outside his flat four months before a Channel Four documentary focused on the rivalry between him and Banksy was due to air. |
Ms Hassell said pedestrian Peter Watt had reported seeing Mr Robertson around 00:20 BST on 2 April "at the top of ten stairs texting on his mobile." | Ms Hassell said pedestrian Peter Watt had reported seeing Mr Robertson around 00:20 BST on 2 April "at the top of ten stairs texting on his mobile." |
Black cab passenger Louisa Green said in a statement she spotted him 20 minutes later "lying on the ground at the bottom of the steps with blood around his head" as she drove past and called an ambulance. | Black cab passenger Louisa Green said in a statement she spotted him 20 minutes later "lying on the ground at the bottom of the steps with blood around his head" as she drove past and called an ambulance. |
Mr Robertson's work was exhibited in galleries and he received several high value international commissions, but became better known for a public feud with his rival Banksy, whose works sell for millions of pounds worldwide. | Mr Robertson's work was exhibited in galleries and he received several high value international commissions, but became better known for a public feud with his rival Banksy, whose works sell for millions of pounds worldwide. |
Banksy and King Robbo had allegedly become involved in a public clash in a bar in Old Street, east London, which resulted in Banksy painting a figure of a man putting wallpaper over a 1985 Regent's Canal Robbo mural. | Banksy and King Robbo had allegedly become involved in a public clash in a bar in Old Street, east London, which resulted in Banksy painting a figure of a man putting wallpaper over a 1985 Regent's Canal Robbo mural. |
But following the news of King Robbo's death, Banksy paid tribute to him on his website, listing the names of the graffiti crews he was a part of: "Robbo WRH WD PFB - RIP". | But following the news of King Robbo's death, Banksy paid tribute to him on his website, listing the names of the graffiti crews he was a part of: "Robbo WRH WD PFB - RIP". |
Recording her verdict, Ms Hassell said: "I have no hesitation in saying that Mr Robertson died as a result of the long-term traumatic brain injury that he suffered in 2011. | |
"However, I have scant evidence as to how that brain injury was sustained. He was found at the bottom of the flight steps. | "However, I have scant evidence as to how that brain injury was sustained. He was found at the bottom of the flight steps. |
"It may be that he simply fell down that flight but I have no evidence. There is insufficient evidence to allow me to decide any other determination." | "It may be that he simply fell down that flight but I have no evidence. There is insufficient evidence to allow me to decide any other determination." |
Following the incident, Mr Robertson was eventually transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney, where Dr Kudret Yelden diagnosed him as being "in a vegetative state second to traumatic brain injury" and said he made little progress. | Following the incident, Mr Robertson was eventually transferred to the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney, where Dr Kudret Yelden diagnosed him as being "in a vegetative state second to traumatic brain injury" and said he made little progress. |
In March, he was taken to the Gardens and Jacobs Neuro Centres in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, where he died on 31 July. | In March, he was taken to the Gardens and Jacobs Neuro Centres in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, where he died on 31 July. |