Belly Mujinga: Colleagues Speak Out As CPS 'Reviews Evidence' Around Spit Attack
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Two months ago today, rail worker Belly Mujinga died after she was reportedly spat at while on duty at Victoria Station by a man claiming to have coronavirus.
The assault was not reported to the police for seven weeks – long after Mujinga had died, leaving behind 11-year-old daughter Ingrid and husband Lusamba Gode Katalay.
Last week British Transport Police (BTP) announced it was taking no further action in the matter, stating it had found insufficient proof of a crime to justify any prosecution.
But now, in a surprising U-turn, the force has asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to review the available evidence in “recognition of wider public interest” – though it has denied the case is actually being reopened.
The move comes as protests in the UK over the brutal police killing of George Floyd in the US have amplified anger over Mujinga’s death.
And now one of Mujinga’s own colleagues has spoken to HuffPost UK to allege that their employer Govia Thameslink was negligent in its refusal to report the attack – as she had pleaded with them to – and that staff are still not being properly protected from the threat of coronavirus.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said senior staff were aware of Mujinga’s underlying health conditions – including respiratory issues – which made her vulnerable, but forced her to work outside on the station concourses instead of inside the ticket office.
He said: “We were all aware that Belly had underlying conditions. Belly was not able to stand for long hours, she had a problem with her feet and she made the business aware that she couldn’t do it.
“But team leaders and managers had that persuasive and pushy way to get her outside. Other staff, we took turns going out, there are a few members whom we know have conditions, so what we do is if we know they are going out, we swap with them, just to...
