Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The recent case involving the death of Kevin Clarke has come to a conclusion. Two police officers, PCs Danielle Barnes and Elizabeth McAleenan, who denied hearing Mr. Clarke say he could not breathe, have been cleared of gross misconduct. The officers were accused of failing to ensure the welfare of Mr. Clarke, a man with paranoid schizophrenia who died in 2018 at Lewisham Hospital.
Despite allegations that the two officers lied under oath, the misconduct panel ruled that there was not enough evidence to prove that the officers had heard Mr. Clarke say the words “I can’t breathe” and failed to take action. The family of Mr. Clarke expressed their disappointment with the outcome.
The inquest into Mr. Clarke’s death in October 2020 ruled that the police decision to restrain Mr. Clarke “escalated the situation to a medical emergency”, and that it was “highly likely” that at least one officer heard Mr. Clarke say “I can’t breathe” on more than one occasion. However, the panel in this recent case was unable to conclude that the words “I can’t breathe” were uttered by Mr. Clarke.
The family’s lawyer, Cyrilia Davies Knight, stated that “the family had no expectations of justice as they believe this system is clearly not designed to deliver accountability, particularly where there is a death in police custody”. The family has expressed their disappointment with the outcome, stating that “there is something wrong with the system – the system is broken and it’s not fit for purpose.”
Despite the ruling, the family of Mr. Clarke continues to fight for justice. The case has brought to light the ongoing issues surrounding deaths in police custody and the need for accountability and reform within the justice system. The legacy of Kevin Clarke will not be forgotten and will continue to inspire change
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.