Georgia coaches charged with murder after student dies during drills

Clayton County, Georgia - A court has ruled that the death of high school basketball player Imani Bell was the fault of her two basketball coaches, who forced her to train in unbearable heat. They have been charged with murder.

Imani Bell was made to run laps and climb bleachers in a heat index of 106 degrees (stock image).
Imani Bell was made to run laps and climb bleachers in a heat index of 106 degrees (stock image).  © 123RF/ woodysphotos

Larosa Maria Walker-Asekere and Dwight Broom Palm Georgia disregarded school district policy and pushed their players to train in heat over 95 degrees. On the day in question – August 13, 2019 – the head index was a scorching 106 degrees, according to Yahoo.

Athletes, dance team members, and marching band members all over the south regularly practice in grueling heat, and trips to the ER for students are not uncommon.

Some districts, such as the one where 16-year-old Imani was a student, have tried to set boundaries for student safety during extra-curricular activities. Her coaches didn't seem to care.

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Autopsy rulings agreed that her death was a result of running laps and being forced to jog up stadium bleachers in the fierce heat. Though the coaches said they had tried to help and encourage her to finish her training when she collapsed, that pushing resulted in their bodies dangerously overheating and rhabdomyolysis, a condition that occurs when over-exertion leads to muscles breaking down and proteins destroying the kidneys.

"We are seeking justice and we need everybody in the world to understand that we need to take this heat seriously. Just be aware of what’s going on in your surroundings, for our kids to listen to your body. If your body is hot, stop," Eric Bell, Imani's father, told WSBTV.

The two coaches were charged with second-degree murder, second-degree child cruelty, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless conduct.

Cover photo: 123RF/ woodysphotos

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