Inquest confirmed for schoolboy who was allegedly pushed into river

Inquest into the death of a schoolboy, 13, who drowned after allegedly being pushed into a river is to be heard next year

• A date has been set for the inquest of a schoolboy who drowned in a river 
• Christopher Kapessa, 13, was allegedly pushed into the River Cynon in Wales
• Prosecutors never pursued charge against boy, then 14, accused of pushing him
• His devastated mother said she needed to ‘understand fully what had happened’

A date has been set for the inquest of a schoolboy who drowned in a river while playing with friends.

Christopher Kapessa, 13, was allegedly pushed into the River Cynon near Fernhill, in the south-east of Wales, on July 1, 2019.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute a boy, 14 at the time of Christopher’s death, accused of being responsible.

In July 2020, the agency said prosecution was not in the public interest – a decision later challenged by Christopher’s mother, Alina Joseph.

Christopher Kapessa (pictured), 13, was allegedly pushed into the River Cynon near Fernhill, in the south-east of Wales, on July 1, 2019 

The Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute a boy, 14 at the time of Christopher’s death, accused of being responsible – a decision later challenged by Christopher’s mother, Alina Joseph (pictured together

Barrister Michael Mansfield QC, who led Ms Joseph’s legal team, argued the decision not to prosecute the ‘suspect’, who by that stage was 17, was ‘unreasonable or irrational’. 

Ms Joseph wanted to ‘understand fully what had happened to her son’ and to ‘see justice done according to that truth’, he said. 

She claimed her son had expressed concerns about his inability to swim. 

Ms Joseph wanted to ‘understand fully what had happened to her son’ and to ‘see justice done according to that truth’, her barrister said 

But her bid to have prosecutors consider charges was unsuccessful in the High Court.

On Friday, a pre-inquest review into Christopher’s death took place at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court.

Assistant coroner Nadim Bashir told the hearing a date for the full inquest has been set for July 10, 2023.

The full inquest is expected to last for 10 days. Mr Bashir said he is ‘not prepared to adjourn’ it.

Christopher Kapessa, 13, was allegedly pushed into the River Cynon (pictured) near Fernhill, in the south-east of Wales, on July 1, 2019

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