Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

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Oliver Schick

The police say that Belly Mujinga's death was not caused by the spitting incident:

In a statement, BTP said senior detectives had concluded “there is no evidence to substantiate any criminal offences having taken place, and the tragic death of Belly Mujinga was not a consequence of this incident”.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/29/police-close-case-of-rail-workers-covid-19-death-after-spitting-incident

I thought spitting was assault? She may not have died as a result of contracting COVID-19 from this incident, but I thought there's a criminal offence regardless? It may just be that the reporting isn't clear.

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Brommers in reply to @Oliver Schick

Spitting at someone is assault. But most police officers, in my experience, have only the haziest idea of what the law is, and tend to just make it up as they go along, based on whatever is expedient at the time.

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Oliver Schick in reply to @Brommers

Well, so what really happened? Surely in such a high-profile case you should be able to get advice from someone who does know the law?

The only thing I can imagine to explain it is that she wasn't actually spat at, but then why would it have been reported in the first place?

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