Lovena Mungur returned on Monday to the tragedy that occurred in Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est in 2016, where her husband and her son drowned. She testifies at the trial of the skipper accused of manslaughter through recklessness.
On Monday, Lovena Mungur returned to the tragedy at sea that occurred in Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est, which cost the lives of her husband, police officer Chetalsing Mungur (30 years old), and their son Navish (7 months) in June 2016. She was speaking during the trial brought against skipper Louis Hayward Marie for reckless manslaughter before the intermediate court.
The skipper has pleaded not guilty and is defended by Mr. Chetan Baboolall, while the prosecution is represented by Mr. Bhavna Bhagwan, Senior State Counsel.
Lovena Mungur said that, on the day of the tragedy, several families, including her husband's colleagues, were taking an excursion to Île-aux-Cerfs. On the way back it started to rain. “Monn santi bato-la akselere. Mo latansion ti when my baby, my pann finds kot nou ti summer. Enn sel kou bato inn devire,” she explained. Everyone ended up in the water.
She then learned of the tragic fate of her son and her husband. She insists: “Personn pann eksplike ki bann prekosion bizin pran lor bato”. She also did not know that there were life jackets on board.
When asked by Me Chetan Baboolall about the possible responsibility of Louis Hayward Marie in the capsizing, Lovena Mungur was unable to comment. She acknowledged that several passengers had consumed alcohol, but denied that they were standing and dancing, which would have unbalanced the canoe.
The trial, presided over by Magistrate Nithiraj Bisnathsing, was adjourned to June 8, 2026.
As a reminder, on Wednesday June 8, 2016, 16 people were on board the canoe which overturned in unexplained circumstances. Four of them lost their lives: Chetalsing Mungur, her son Navish, police officer Urmila Mewa (25 years old) and Vaibhav Shamloll (4 years old). A judicial investigation was also opened following the accident.
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