RIVER TRAGEDY
Boy, 13, deliberately pushed into river and killed, inquest finds after teen heard making chilling ‘joke’ before horror
Inquest hears of moments before tragic death as boys played
A BOY was deliberately pushed into a river and killed moments after a teen was heard making a "joke" about shoving him, a coroner ruled.
Christopher Kapessa, 13, who could not swim, fell in the River Cynon in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, before the horror.
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The schoolboy began shouting for help as other children by the water's edge jumped in but he disappeared beneath the surface.
Christopher was later recovered from the river but couldn't be saved and was declared dead in hospital.
South Wales Central Coroner's Court has been told another boy, then aged 14, pushed Christopher from a ledge into the water.
He claimed he accidentally fell into the schoolboy - causing him to fall into the river.
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But recording a narrative verdict, Assistant Coroner David Regan today found he pushed Christopher "in a misplaced sense of fun, as a prank, and not with any malicious intent".
He added: "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."
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The inquest was told by four witnesses that the teen had asked words to the effect of "shall I push him in?" moments before the horror.
Giving evidence, Killian Haslam, now 18, said the group of friends had all met at what was known as the "red bridge" on the day of the tragedy.
Christopher had removed his top and glasses and stood next to two of the boys, who were considering jumping in.
He was reportedly telling everyone "I can swim" then began "joking around" saying he was scared.
Killian said the alleged pusher was stood on a footpath next to the ledge as the boys all "constantly" jumped in and out of the water.
He added: "He asked me if he should push him in. I was out of the water, wrapping a towel around me. There was no conversation, he just asked me a question.
"He didn't mean it in a bad way, there was no bad intention there. It was a jokey way, like you do, boys being boys. I didn't take much notice."
When asked about the comment specifically, the witness continued: "Nothing bad, nothing horrible, just a little comment. It was nothing sinister or anything like that.
"I don't think I gave a response. I just walked past."
Killian said he then went into nearby woods to change when he heard shouting come from the river.
He ran back and jumped in the water to help Christopher along with around three other teens.
The witness told the hearing he met the teen accused of pushing Christopher around a week after the tragedy.
He said: "He came up to me asking what I had said in my statement. I said I told them what I heard, which was that Christopher slipped in. He was like, 'Thank you'.
"That's when he told me he pushed him. I said, 'Next time I have an interview or speak to the police, I'm going to have to tell the truth'.
"He agreed with me. He didn't want me to lie for him."
In 2022, the High Court upheld the Crown Prosecution Service decision not to charge the 14-year-old boy over Christopher's death.
Speaking after the verdict, Christopher's mum Alina Joseph described her son as "always thoughtful, sensitive, full of hope".
She said: "I cherish the memories of my son who was an incredible young boy. Christopher will always be remembered for bringing immense joy and happiness to me and to everyone who he met.
"Christopher would have celebrated his 18th birthday in January of this year. It was difficult watching other children do normal things that Christopher wanted to do.
"I wonder every day what he would look like now - the only image I've got of him at the age of 13 - and what he would have been doing. I know he would have been fulfilling his dreams and aspirations.
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"He would still be cheeky and making us all laugh."
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