A relative of Mary Ball, who plunged to her death from a Fulham tower block as police broke down her door, has criticised the way the raid was handled.
The 43-year-old grandmother, whose funeral took place on Monday, died on September 21 after falling from her seventh floor balcony in Barton House, Townmead Estate, Wandsworth Bridge Road.
Speaking at a gathering to mark Mary's life, sister-in-law Diana Ball, 44, from Pearscroft Court, Pearscroft Road, Fulham, said: "Mary used to like to meet friends and they would sit on the benches outside the flats. If the police wanted to speak to her I do not see why they had to break down the door.
"Why couldn't they have spoken to her on the street. We can't understand why they went up to her flat like that."
Officers had wanted to interview her on the day she died about an outstanding community service order.
Diana Ball added: "She was a bit of a character, loved having a good laugh and going out with her friends.Mainly she would go to the Queen Elizabeth pub in Bagley's Lane.
"Mary was devoted to her children, Tommy, 17 and Maria, who is 25. Maria has a three-year-old son Ty and Mary thought the world of him."
Miss Ball's death is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police's Department of Professional Standards.
