Assistant Coroner Concludes Deliberate Act Led to Teen’s Fatal Incident Near Fernhill
In a somber turn of events, the findings of Assistant Coroner David Regan were revealed today following a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of 13-year-old schoolboy Christopher Kapessa, who drowned in the River Cynon near Fernhill on a summer’s day in July 2019.
- What roads are closed & more info, for the Wales Scotland game 3rd feb
- Community rallies support Danielles fight against terminal cancer
- large cardiff contingent in wales six nations squad new faces-and returning stars
- Stop this annoying Guest spam on FB (With pictures)
- Speed Bumps and Confusion: Drakeford’s Drive Through Wales’ 20mph Maze
Mr Regan stated “Christopher Kapessa aged 13 died by submersion when intentionally pushed by another child into the River Cynon. The push was a dangerous prank, however the child responsible for it did not intend to cause Christopher’s death and himself jumped into the water with other children in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue.”
Mr. Regan conveyed that, based on the evidence presented, Christopher, a pupil at Mountain Ash Comprehensive, had been intentionally pushed into the river by a group of teenagers near the red bridge, an area where they had been spending time. Contrary to the accused’s claim that it was an accidental slip, Mr. Regan asserted, “(The boy) pushed Christopher into the water in a misplaced sense of fun, as a prank, and not with any malicious intent.”
In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided against prosecuting the teenager accused of pushing Christopher into the river, citing that a prosecution was not in the public interest. Christopher’s mother, Alina Joseph, contested this decision at a High Court hearing in London in January 2022, accusing the police of institutional racism and asserting that inquiries into her son’s death had prematurely halted, deeming it an accident after just one day.
The coroner adde ‘a narrative conclusion was appropriate in this case.’
He said to do otherwise would “perpetuate misunderstanding”.
Mr Regan added: “There have been significant misreports of circumstances of Christopher’s death. This needs to be dispelled so far as the inquest can do so.
“Christopher’s death did not have a single cause in the context of the push, depth, the current, the water and ease of access to the site.”
The tragic incident continues to raise questions about the thoroughness of the investigation and the challenges faced by Christopher’s family in seeking justice for their son.