Police have said there was 'no evidence of anyone spitting' in an incident which was thought to have led to the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga.
Yesterday British Transport Police (BTP) said no further action would be taken regarding the death of the 47-year-old who contracted coronavirus after reportedly being spat on.
Mum-of-one and Thames link rail ticket collector Mrs Mujinga from Hendon, North London, died from Covid-19 in April after reporting that a passenger spat at her at Victoria Station.
She died just three days after being admitted to an intensive care ward and put on a ventilator.
BTP said yesterday that no further action would be taken over her death as there was "no key evidence to substantiate any criminal offences have taken place".
It added that the death of Mrs Mujinga was not a consequence of this incident and that no further action would be taken against a 57-year-old man from London who was interviewed.
Now BTP have provided further details about the case which reveals the man featured on the CCTV had a negative antibody test result for Covid-19 in the time after the incident.
In a statement posted on BTP's website this afternoon, it said the man's test did not relate to the BTP investigation and he was tested as part of his occupation.
The test results were shared with BTP during the investigation.
The statement read: "We understand that the tragic death of Belly Mujinga has shocked many people and that the outcome of our investigation has raised questions.
"We want to be clear on why we decided not to take any further action – based on key witness statements and having reviewed the CCTV footage, there is no evidence of anyone spitting in this incident.
"Senior detectives are confident that this incident did not lead to Belly Mujinga contracting Covid-19. This is because the man in the CCTV footage who detectives interviewed as part of the investigation had a negative antibody test result for Covid-19 in the time after the incident, therefore showing that he had never had the illness.
"The man’s test did not relate to the BTP investigation – he was tested as part of his occupation and the test results were shared with us during the investigation
"Having reviewed all the evidence, senior detectives are satisfied that the incident didn’t lead to Belly Mujinga’s death.
"We have kept Belly’s family fully informed throughout the investigation and they will continue to be supported by specialist officers.
"Our thoughts remain with her family and we will continue to support them as they come to terms with the loss of their much-loved mother and wife."
Colleagues from Southern Railway and Gatwick Express have paid tribute to Belly.
Angie Doll, managing director of Southern Railway and Gatwick Express, said the conclusions from BTP did not detract from the tragic loss.
She said: "Belly worked at Victoria for nine years and was a very friendly and well-liked member of our team who we sorely miss.
"Our heart goes out to her husband and daughter, who we continue to offer support to at this difficult time.
"Everyone on the railway is doing an incredible job helping healthcare professionals and other key workers to get to work at a challenging time.
"We are devastated that this pandemic has affected people across the transport industry, including two of our own colleagues who have sadly passed away due to coronavirus.
"We continue to do all we can to protect our extraordinary colleagues, who are key workers themselves, as the country focuses on defeating this terrible illness together."
Ms Mujinga's husband Lusamba Gode Katalay said it had been a difficult day for the family after the police statement on Friday.
He said: "We had never thought a prosecution was likely, but it was disappointing to get that news. We are not pursuing a prosecution.
"We are instead calling for her employer to take action to protect their workers.
"There are important things we need answers to. Her union, the TSSA, reported it to Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate (the health and safety body of the Office for Road and Rail), and that investigation into the safety of Belly's workplace is still ongoing.
"Hopefully that will answer questions like why she was out working on the concourse at all given that she had a respiratory health issue.
"We also think that all key workers like Belly should be covered by the government's NHS compensation scheme.
"The money can't bring her back or take away our pain, but it would be recognition of the sacrifice that all key workers have made to help our country through this pandemic."
Ms Mujinga's employers, Southern Railway, said it followed all of the latest Government health advice, which it said has not advised that railway workers need to wear personal protective equipment.
"More recently, the travelling public has been advised to wear a face covering to help prevent spread.
"To support our people, we in turn, have now provided masks to our frontline workers, which we initiated at the point at which the official advice was updated," said a spokesman.
