Teen’s chilling ‘joke’ before boy, 13, was ‘pushed in river and killed’ as inquest hears haunting final moments
A TEEN joked about pushing a 13-year-old boy into a river before he tragically drowned, an inquest heard.
Christopher Kapessa, who could not swim, had jumped in the River Cynon in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, before the horror.
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.
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.”
The inquest also heard details of Christopher’s final moments as he got into difficulty in the water.
Witness Tyana Chislett, now 18, said: “I was just on my phone. I looked up, I saw Christopher in the air, then he went into the water.
“When Christopher went into the water it was a big splash. Nobody went in the water for a bit because everybody thought it was a joke. He kept struggling, saying, ‘Help me’.”
In 2022, the High Court upheld the Crown Prosecution Service decision not to charge the 14-year-old boy over Christopher’s death.
The inquest continues.