CPS to review Covid-19 death of Belly Mujinga
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been asked to review evidence into the death of a railway worker who was spat at by a man claiming to have coronavirus.
British Transport Police (BTP) concluded last week that Belly Mujinga's death was not linked to the incident and closed the case.
However, more than a million people have signed a petition in support of Ms Mujinga and BTP said it requested the review in light of the "wider public interest".
Ms Mujinga , 47, died with Covid-19 on 5 April, a few weeks after an incident at London's Victoria station.
BTP questioned a 57-year-old man but said "there was insufficient evidence to support a prosecution based upon the allegation that the man spat deliberately on Mrs Mujinga or said that he had the virus".
The man also had a negative antibody test, showing he had never had the illness. Because of this, the force decided not to refer the case to the CPS.
BTP has invited the CPS to conduct an independent review of the evidence, and whether there were any further lines of inquiry.
"We can assure the public that we have comprehensively reviewed all the available evidence and have not identified any offences or behaviour that meets the threshold for prosecution," it said.
The petition seeks justice for the family of Ms Mujinga, and her husband Lusamba thanked those who have signed it, saying they had been on a "rollercoaster of emotions".
"Black lives do matter. Belly's life mattered.
"It mattered to me, to our daughter, our friends and family, to Belly's colleagues, and now it matters to many thousands of you out there," Lusamba said.
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