Belly Mujinga
Ms Mujinga, 47, handed away on 5 April 2020 (Image: PA)

The inquest right into a railway employee who died from Covid after a buyer reportedly coughed and spat at her has been delayed once more.

Stomach Mujinga, 47, handed away on 5 April 2020, two weeks after the incident at London’s Victoria station is alleged to have taken place.

Talking on the finish of one other administrative listening to, coroner Andrew Walker apologised to her household for the continued delays to the inquest, which is but to obtain a set date.

‘My deepest sympathies to the household, and my apologies for the delay on this matter,’ he instructed the coroner’s court docket in Excessive Barnet on Friday.

‘It should progress, and it'll progress swiftly.’

Whereas the inquest continues, British Transport Police (BTP) mentioned there was not sufficient proof to counsel that a crime had taken place after interviewing a 57-year-old man in reference to the incident.

Undated family file handout photo of Belly Mujinga. Vigils will be held on Monday to mark the first anniversary of the death of the railway worker as the coronavirus crisis was worsening. Issue date: Monday April 5, 2021. PA Photo. Ms Mujinga, 47, died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station. See PA story INDUSTRY Vigil. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Stomach Mujinga died from coronavirus after she was reportedly spat at and coughed on (Image: PA)

A press release issued in Might 2020 mentioned: ‘Having totally reviewed all statements from key witnesses together with co-workers and carefully reviewing the CCTV footage, the investigating officers concluded there was inadequate proof to help a prosecution based mostly upon the allegation that the person spat intentionally on Mrs Mujinga or mentioned that he had the virus.

‘It was due to this fact decided that there was inadequate proof to pursue costs of Frequent Assault or a Public Order Act offence. With out these precursor parts there's inadequate proof to hyperlink the alleged actions with Mrs Mujinga contracting coronavirus.’

They added that they might refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for an impartial assessment.

In August that yr, the CPS confirmed ‘no additional dependable proof’ grew to become obtainable to vary the unique resolution of the BTP.

 ‘CCTV and witness proof was insufficiently clear and constant to substantiate allegations of deliberate coughing or spitting, which means no costs could be introduced for assault or public order offences.

Lusamba Katalay (left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station. Picture date: Monday April 5, 2021. PA Photo. British Transport Police investigated her death but decided there was not enough evidence to charge anyone with a crime. A coroner is now deciding whether to hold an inquest into her death. See PA story INDUSTRY Vigil. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Stomach’s loss of life prompted an outpouring of grief and demand for solutions (Image: PA)

‘Medical checks confirmed the suspect had not been contaminated with coronavirus, which along with the shortage of different proof guidelines out any costs in relation to murder,’ it mentioned.

Mrs Mujinga was initially from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the place she was the primary feminine sports activities journalist to work for the nationwide broadcaster RTNC, her household mentioned.

She moved to the UK in 2000.

Her husband, Lusamba Gode Katalay, and daughter Ingrid have been two of solely 10 individuals permitted at her funeral because of coronavirus restrictions in place on the time.

Her loss of life prompted an outpouring of grief and demand for solutions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson beforehand talked about Ms Mujinga’s loss of life within the Home of Commons, telling MPs: ‘The actual fact she was abused for doing her job is completely appalling.’

An extra pre-inquest assessment is because of happen on 25 January, when an skilled is known to be assigned to look into potential causes of Ms Mujinga’s Covid-19 an infection.

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