Belly Mujinga: No further action to be taken after railway worker died from coronavirus after being spat at, British transport police say
‘As a result of our enquiries, we can now be confident that this incident did not lead to Belly’s tragic death,’ says detective
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.British Transport Police (BTP) have confirmed that no further action will be taken in relation to the death of Belly Mujinga, a railway worker who died of coronavirus after being spat at in London Victoria station.
Following a “full and thorough investigation”, BTP detectives concluded there “is no evidence to substantiate any criminal offences” took place and Ms Mujinga’s death was “not a consequence of this incident”.
“No further action will be taken against a 57-year-old man from London who was interviewed in relation to the incident. The matter will not be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Detectives reviewed CCTV footage of the incident and spoke to key witnesses to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident on 21 March.
Ms Mujinga died a fortnight after allegedly being spat at by a man who claimed he had coronavirus. She had been working on the concourse at Victoria at the time of the incident.
The attack on Ms Mujinga was widely condemned amid a spate of other spitting and coughing assaults on police, transport staff and other key workers.
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn said in a statement: “I know the loss of Belly has moved so many people. and I can assure you we have done everything we can to provide answers for her family.
“As a result of our enquiries, we can now be confident that this incident did not lead to Belly’s tragic death.
“Our thoughts remain with her family and we will continue to support them as they come to terms with the loss of their much-loved mother and wife.”
Angie Doll, managing director of Southern Railway and Gatwick Express, said: “While we note the BTP’s conclusions, this does not detract from the tragic loss of our colleague.
“Our heart goes out to her husband and daughter, who we continue to offer support to at this difficult time.”
The rail minister, Chris Heaton-Harris, said: “This outcome does nothing to change the fact that all workers should be treated with compassion and respect, as we see out this crisis as a country and into the future.
“We will continue working to protect our front line transport workers, who are playing a vital role in supporting passengers and keeping our country moving.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments