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Bijan Ebrahimi: PC and PCSO guilty of misconduct | Bijan Ebrahimi: PC and PCSO guilty of misconduct |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A PC and a community support officer have been convicted of misconduct in a public office after the "vigilante" murder of a man by his neighbour. | A PC and a community support officer have been convicted of misconduct in a public office after the "vigilante" murder of a man by his neighbour. |
Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was murdered on an estate in Bristol in July 2013 amid false claims he was a paedophile. | Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was murdered on an estate in Bristol in July 2013 amid false claims he was a paedophile. |
He repeatedly called police for help in the days before, the trial heard, but had been seen as a "nuisance". | He repeatedly called police for help in the days before, the trial heard, but had been seen as a "nuisance". |
PC Kevin Duffy and Andrew Passmore were convicted of misconduct but PCs Leanne Winter and Helen Harris were cleared. | PC Kevin Duffy and Andrew Passmore were convicted of misconduct but PCs Leanne Winter and Helen Harris were cleared. |
The four Avon and Somerset officers were accused of letting their dislike of Mr Ebrahimi influence their decision making. | The four Avon and Somerset officers were accused of letting their dislike of Mr Ebrahimi influence their decision making. |
Iranian-born Mr Ebrahimi, who was registered disabled, was beaten to death by neighbour Lee James outside his flat in Capgrave Crescent, Brislington, in July 2013. | Iranian-born Mr Ebrahimi, who was registered disabled, was beaten to death by neighbour Lee James outside his flat in Capgrave Crescent, Brislington, in July 2013. |
His body was set alight. | His body was set alight. |
Days earlier he had called police to report James had assaulted him. | Days earlier he had called police to report James had assaulted him. |
James believed Mr Ebrahimi had filmed his children but he was actually recording anti-social behaviour to submit to Bristol City Council. | James believed Mr Ebrahimi had filmed his children but he was actually recording anti-social behaviour to submit to Bristol City Council. |
Vigilantism 'in the air' | |
The trial heard PC Winter and PC Harris did not see any injuries on Mr Ebrahimi. | The trial heard PC Winter and PC Harris did not see any injuries on Mr Ebrahimi. |
Instead they arrested him for an alleged breach of the peace. | Instead they arrested him for an alleged breach of the peace. |
A crowd gathered outside his flat cheered and James shouted: "Paedo! I'm going to kill you." The court heard "vigilantism was in the air". | |
After being released the following morning, Mr Ebrahimi repeatedly tried to get police to investigate his complaint against James and called the non-emergency 101 number 12 times. He was told his local beat manager - Duffy - would visit. | After being released the following morning, Mr Ebrahimi repeatedly tried to get police to investigate his complaint against James and called the non-emergency 101 number 12 times. He was told his local beat manager - Duffy - would visit. |
"My life is in danger. Right now a few of my neighbours are outside and shouting and calling me a paedophile. I need to see PC Duffy," Mr Ebrahimi told one operator. | "My life is in danger. Right now a few of my neighbours are outside and shouting and calling me a paedophile. I need to see PC Duffy," Mr Ebrahimi told one operator. |
But the trial heard Duffy, 52, saw him as a "liar and a nuisance" and never went to see him. | But the trial heard Duffy, 52, saw him as a "liar and a nuisance" and never went to see him. |
He asked Passmore to conduct a "bit of a foot patrol" around Capgrave Crescent. | He asked Passmore to conduct a "bit of a foot patrol" around Capgrave Crescent. |
Passmore, 56, was convicted of misconduct in a public office by falsely claiming during a police interview to have spent an hour patrolling the area around Mr Ebrahimi's home. | Passmore, 56, was convicted of misconduct in a public office by falsely claiming during a police interview to have spent an hour patrolling the area around Mr Ebrahimi's home. |
'Crying for help' | 'Crying for help' |
Mr Ebrahimi's family claimed their brother was the victim of racism for years. | Mr Ebrahimi's family claimed their brother was the victim of racism for years. |
Speaking outside court, his sister Mojgan Khayatian said there had been a clear failure by police. | Speaking outside court, his sister Mojgan Khayatian said there had been a clear failure by police. |
She said: "Bijan was crying for help not one time, not twice, not three times. He made several phone calls and ignoring these phone calls for somebody who's very vulnerable, who's got a history of being vulnerable and seeking help from police for years, it was even worse." | She said: "Bijan was crying for help not one time, not twice, not three times. He made several phone calls and ignoring these phone calls for somebody who's very vulnerable, who's got a history of being vulnerable and seeking help from police for years, it was even worse." |
James was convicted of murder in 2013 and is serving a life sentence. | James was convicted of murder in 2013 and is serving a life sentence. |
Another Capgrave Crescent resident, Stephen Norley, was sentenced to four years for assisting an offender. | Another Capgrave Crescent resident, Stephen Norley, was sentenced to four years for assisting an offender. |
Eighteen Avon and Somerset Police officers and staff - including Duffy, Passmore, Harris and Winter - still face internal police misconduct proceedings. Nine of them face gross misconduct charges. | Eighteen Avon and Somerset Police officers and staff - including Duffy, Passmore, Harris and Winter - still face internal police misconduct proceedings. Nine of them face gross misconduct charges. |
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe described Mr Ebrahimi's murder as "senseless" | Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe described Mr Ebrahimi's murder as "senseless" |
She added: "This tragedy should never have happened. A great deal has been done to understand and reflect on the events in the weeks leading up to Mr Ebrahimi's death." | She added: "This tragedy should never have happened. A great deal has been done to understand and reflect on the events in the weeks leading up to Mr Ebrahimi's death." |
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said it was "clear that on this occasion the constabulary failed local people and let down a vulnerable man in his own home". | Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said it was "clear that on this occasion the constabulary failed local people and let down a vulnerable man in his own home". |
Duffy and Passmore were released on unconditional bail, with sentencing adjourned to a date to be fixed in 2016. | Duffy and Passmore were released on unconditional bail, with sentencing adjourned to a date to be fixed in 2016. |