Boy, 13, died after being pushed into the river as part of 'prank'

22 January 2024 , 13:24

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Christopher Kapessa died when out playing on a summers day (Image: PA)

A 13-year-old boy was deliberately pushed into a river in a “misplaced sense of fun” a coroner has concluded as the boy responsible has been named.

Christopher Kapessa had been playing near the River Cynon, near Fernhill, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in Wales, on July 1, 2019, when he was pushed into the river, and drowned. The 13-year-old Mountain Ash Comprehensive pupil was deliberately pushed into the river, Assistant coroner David Regan ruled today, after a two-week hearing at South Wales Coroner's Court.

A group of teenagers were spending time by a bridge known as the Red Bridge. Christopher tragically died when another boy, who was today named as Jayden Pugh, now aged 19, pushed him into the water in what the coroner said was a “misplaced sense of fun, as a prank, and not with any malicious intent”.

The teenager claimed he had slipped and knocked Christopher off the edge - something the judge said was incorrect, rejecting Pugh's evidence. In January 2022 the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to prosecute Pugh. Four witnesses told the inquest in Pontypridd that Pugh, then aged 14, had pushed Christopher from a ledge into the water, after saying words to the effect of "shall I push him in".

Christopher, described as "loving, caring, passionate and very protective" by his family, died after entering the River Cynon. His mum said the family had been racially abused in the area before her son tragically died.

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Delivering his conclusions in the case, Mr Regan said: "In my judgment, Christopher was deliberately pushed into the back from behind by [the boy] using his hands. [The boy's] actions deprived Christopher of the opportunity to decide whether or not to enter the water. I have no hesitation in finding that Christopher did not consent to being pushed into the river."

Christopher, who was not a confident swimmer according to his mother, began panicking and shouted for help. Other children, including the boy alleged to have pushed him into the river, jumped in and tried to rescue him, but Christopher disappeared below the surface at about 5.30pm.

Alina Joseph, Christopher's heartbroken mum (Alina Joseph)

The CPS said a prosecution was not in the public interest. Christopher's mother Alina Joseph later challenged that decision at a High Court hearing in London but two judges ruled against her. Ms Joseph has previously accused the CPS and South Wales Police of institutional racism in their failure to prosecute Pugh.

She said the inquiries stopped a day after the incident had taken place, when it was decided her son’s death had been an accident. The BBC reported that when the decision not to charge the 14-year-old was reviewed, Jenny Hopkins, who oversees the appeals and review unit within the CPS, said: "Although there was evidence to support a prosecution for manslaughter it was not in the public interest to prosecute."

Mr Regan described how Christopher fell 2.5 metres from the ledge into the river, into water that was 2.5 metres deep, and had not been able to prepare for his entry. Christopher's head became submerged, he is likely to have suffered from cold water shock, which would have led to the involuntary ingestion of water, the coroner said. Emergency services attended and Christopher was recovered from the water at 7.25pm. He was later declared dead at the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

Tributes left to Christopher whose body was found in the river after he was pushed in by Jayden Pugh (Media Wales)

The Red Bridge crossing the river near Fernhill, where the tragedy took place (MEDIA WALES)

The coroner praised the evidence of one witness, Isabella Watts, who gave “clear, precise, and measured” evidence helping prove Christopher was pushed into the water. She described the boy accused of pushing Christopher as standing directly behind him. Ms Watts said she directly saw the boy push Christopher, with his hands on the middle of his back.

Mr Regan referred to Ms Watts becoming distressed. He said the witness had refuted the boy had stumbled into Christopher and had said “It weren’t about blaming, it was about telling the truth”. When asked if it was important to be truthful from the beginning, she said: “Yes, we were 13 and we were scared.”

Mr Regan said: “She struck me as an intelligent, open and honest witness doing her best to assist the court in circumstances it was natural she became distressed by events she witnessed.”

Before the hearing concluded, Mr Regan expressed his condolences to Alina Joseph and her family. He said: “I wish you all the best for the future and I’m sorry for your loss.”

Kieren Williams