A teenager who stepped in front of a train at Pangbourne station would have been charged over his mum's fatal stabbing, an inquest has heard. 

Mayawati Bracken, 56, of Chestnuts in Flower’s Hill, Pangbourne, was found with a stab wound to the chest inside a Lexus at the junction of Tidmarsh Road and Flower's Hill at 5.45pm on Thursday, January 4, of this year. 

Her son Julian, 18 and a student at independent boarding school Radley College in Oxfordshire, died less than an hour later after stepping in front of a fast moving train at Pangbourne station. 

At an inquest at Berkshire Coroners' Court today, coroner Heidi Connor has ruled that Ms Bracken died from a haemorrhage after being stabbed in the chest, while Julian suffered multiple injuries and died from suicide. 

The inquest heard that a knife was found near Pangbourne train station the day after the deaths. 

Blood on the knife matched Ms Bracken's. 

But there had been 'no clear evidence as to what triggered these events', according to Detective Inspector Stuart May from Thames Valley Police.

He told the inquest: "We have a detailed understanding of what happened - but unfortunately we have been unable to ascertain why it took place."

The inquest heard that Julian Bracken had suffered a panic attack on Christmas Day 2023 in the family's £2.6 million home, which required a call-out from a paramedic - who heard the teenager swear when mentioning his mother. 

The teenager had no prior issues with the police, and Radley College staff and pupils found Julian to be  'quiet, introverted' but had no cause for concerns, according to the coroner. 

Detective May said there would have been 'sufficient' evidence to charge the teenager for either murder or manslaughter over his mother's death. 

Coroner Heidi Connor said the incident had been 'unique' and 'immensely tragic'.

She added: "It's not up to me to rule what Julian's intentions were when he used the knife resulting in his mother's death. 

"We have heard that Julian would have been charged with either murder or manslaughter had he not died that day. 

"We have hard that Julian did not give his family any cause for concern before he entered the vehicle."

"There is no indication that he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time."

A group of Flower's Hill residents and neighbours to the Brackens attended the inquest and expressed their shock, with one resident, who has lived in the road for six years, saying Mayawati was a 'darling' and 'gorgeous lady' who was very proud of her children. 

The resident, who asked not to be named, added: "We hold a garden party every year, and she went to every one. I remember she was always so proud of her children. 

"You never think you're going to experience something like. 

"Is is so sad."