The 11th floor window where teenagers Lisa Utton and Danielle Waddington threw themselves to their deaths should have been locked.
Suicide scene - a view from the window where the girls jumped and, inset, the window which has now been sealed up Pictures: MAXINE CLARKE
Southend Council, which owns the Cecil Court towerblock in Jones Close, said none of the windows have handles and can only be opened by a special key.
The only people with the key are council staff and the fire brigade - who need to be able to open them in an emergency.
A spokeswoman said vandals may have opened the window.
She said: "There are occasions when vandals tamper with the window locks."
The inquest into the girls' death also heard there were two unsent text messages on Lisa's mobile phone.
Det Chief Insp Simon Dinsdale refused to reveal what the messages said, saying they were intended for the families and were private.
Published Friday March 5, 2004
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