The long awaited inquest into the killing of young Black Welsh boy Christopher Kapessa aged 13, who was found in the River Cyon on July 1, 2019 commenced on Monday January 8th, 2024 and concluded on Friday January 19, 2024. Coroner David Regan ruled on Monday January 22, 2024 that Christopher was deliberately pushed into the river in what he referred to as a “dangeraous prank”. Regan stated that evidence from Jayden Pugh, who said he slipped and fell into Christopher, was "untrue".
Christopher's mother said the injustice she believed her family had endured "haunted" her.
The family's solicitor, Daniel Cooper, said Christopher's death had caused "unimaginable trauma" for his family, distress and anxiety for the community in and around Wales, and had raised "issues of significant public interest".
"The coroner's findings were clear and unambiguous, Christopher was deliberately and intentionally pushed in the back from behind," he said.
The Monitoring Group was contacted two days after Christopher’s death by his mother Alina Joseph. We have supported her in her quest for justice since that initial call, building a campaign that includes legal representation. Please contact us at email address office@tmg-uk.org for further information.
Mainstream media coverage at the start of the inquest has been extensive. Some of the stories can be viewed on the following links:
Christopher Kapessa: Drowned boy's family 'racially abused' - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67911288
Social media built narrative that Christopher Kapessa’s death was racist killing, say police | Wales | The GuardianChristopher Kapessa: Passer-by tried to help in drowned boy's rescue - BBC News
Christopher Kapessa: Passer-by tried to help in drowned boy's rescue - BBC News
No evidence racism played role in death of Christopher Kapessa, inquest told | UK News | Sky News
Here is the full submitted witness statement of Christopher’s mother Alina Joseph to the inquest:
https://publuu.com/flip-book/359885/821914
Following the judgement of the Coroner on Monday January 22, 2024, press coverage can be viewed here: