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Mother of man who died after police restraint calls for prosecution Mother of man who died after police restraint calls for prosecution
(35 minutes later)
The mother of a young man who was killed by prolonged restraint on a mental health ward has called for prosecution of the police officers involved, after an inquest concluded that excessive force led to his death. The mother of a young man who was killed by prolonged restraint on a mental health ward has called for the police officers involved to be prosecuted, after an inquest concluded that excessive force contributed to his death.
Olaseni Lewis, 23, from South Norwood, south London, died on 3 September 2010, three days after he was subjected to two periods of restraint by police lasting more than 30 minutes, while in the care of Bethlem Royal hospital.Olaseni Lewis, 23, from South Norwood, south London, died on 3 September 2010, three days after he was subjected to two periods of restraint by police lasting more than 30 minutes, while in the care of Bethlem Royal hospital.
He had no history of violence or mental illness and had been brought to hospital by his mother and father after suffering an episode of mental ill health that began over the bank holiday weekend. He had no history of violence or mental illness and had been taken to the hospital by his mother and father after an episode of mental ill health that began over the August bank holiday weekend.
In a narrative conclusion given after the coroner ruled out a finding of unlawful killing, the jury identified a litany of failures by both police and medical staff that contributed to Lewis’s death. They said: “The excessive force, pain compliance techniques and multiple mechanical restraints were disproportionate and unreasonable. On the balance of probability, this contributed to the cause of death.” In a narrative conclusion given after the coroner ruled out a finding of unlawful killing, the jury identified a litany of failures by both police and medical staff that contributed to Lewis’s death.
“The excessive force, pain compliance techniques and multiple mechanical restraints were disproportionate and unreasonable. On the balance of probability, this contributed to the cause of death,” they said.
Police failed to act in accordance with their training and recognise Lewis’s acute behavioural disorder as a medical emergency, the jury said. A doctor then failed to respond when Lewis became unresponsive and his heart rate slowed dramatically during the second period of restraint.Police failed to act in accordance with their training and recognise Lewis’s acute behavioural disorder as a medical emergency, the jury said. A doctor then failed to respond when Lewis became unresponsive and his heart rate slowed dramatically during the second period of restraint.
“The police failed to follow their training, which requires them to place an unresponsive person into the recovery position and if necessary administer life support,” the jury concluded. “On the balance of probability this also contributed to the cause of death.”“The police failed to follow their training, which requires them to place an unresponsive person into the recovery position and if necessary administer life support,” the jury concluded. “On the balance of probability this also contributed to the cause of death.”
The medical cause of death was given as a combination of hypoxic brain injury (which occurs when the brain is starved of oxygen), cardiorespiratory arrest and restraint in association with acute behavioural disturbance.The medical cause of death was given as a combination of hypoxic brain injury (which occurs when the brain is starved of oxygen), cardiorespiratory arrest and restraint in association with acute behavioural disturbance.
After the conclusion was handed down, Ajibola Lewis, Olaseni’s mother, said the family had suffered “seven years of struggle” to find out the circumstances of her son’s death. She expressed her regret at turning “to the state” in a desperate bid to help her son. After the conclusion was handed down, Ajibola Lewis, Olaseni’s mother, said the family had suffered “seven years of struggle” to find out the circumstances of her son’s death. She expressed her regret at turning “to the state” in a desperate attempt to help her son.
She said the family had heard of failures at multiple levels among staff at Bethlem. “And we have heard about the brute force with which the police held Seni in a prolonged restraint, which they knew to be dangerous: a restraint that was maintained until Seni was dead, for all intents and purposes.She said the family had heard of failures at multiple levels among staff at Bethlem. “And we have heard about the brute force with which the police held Seni in a prolonged restraint, which they knew to be dangerous: a restraint that was maintained until Seni was dead, for all intents and purposes.
“In light of the evidence we have heard, we consider that the prolonged restraint that resulted in Seni’s death was not and cannot be justified, and we now look to the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider the case, so that the officers involved in the restraint may be brought to answer for their actions before a criminal court.”“In light of the evidence we have heard, we consider that the prolonged restraint that resulted in Seni’s death was not and cannot be justified, and we now look to the Crown Prosecution Service to reconsider the case, so that the officers involved in the restraint may be brought to answer for their actions before a criminal court.”
Theresa May, while home secretary, took a personal interest in the case and met the Lewis family in January 2015.Theresa May, while home secretary, took a personal interest in the case and met the Lewis family in January 2015.
The first investigation into Lewis’s death by the police watchdog initially cleared officers over his death, but pressure from the family meant the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) scrapped its conclusions and started a fresh inquiry. The first investigation into Lewis’s death by the Independent Police Complaints Commission cleared officers over his death, but pressure from the family meant the watchdog scrapped its conclusions and started a fresh inquiry.
In a letter to them and another bereaved family, May wrote: “It is clearly unsatisfactory that families should have to go to court to quash an IPCC report in order to secure a second investigation into the death of a loved one.”In a letter to them and another bereaved family, May wrote: “It is clearly unsatisfactory that families should have to go to court to quash an IPCC report in order to secure a second investigation into the death of a loved one.”
In both the Lewis case and the case of musician Sean Rigg, who died after police restraint in 2008, the IPCC claimed to have carried out a thorough investigation that exonerated the police, only to have to scrap that conclusion and restart its investigation, meaning the families are facing further years of delay. This was known to have concerned May. In the Lewis case and that of musician Sean Rigg, who died after being restrained by police in 2008, the IPCC claimed to have carried out thorough investigations that exonerated the police, only to have to scrap those conclusions and start again. This was known to have concerned May.
The Met police said in a statement: “The matter was reinvestigated with a final report in April 2015 recommending six officers face gross misconduct hearings and five face misconduct hearings. One officer had left the MPS prior to the second IPCC investigation; two others have also since left the MPS. The Metropolitan police said in a statement on Tuesday: “The matter was reinvestigated with a final report in April 2015 recommending six officers face gross misconduct hearings and five face misconduct hearings. One officer had left the MPS prior to the second IPCC investigation; two others have also since left the MPS.
“Following liaison with the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, the IPCC subsequently directed the MPS to hold gross misconduct and misconduct hearings in connection with those officers still serving. The CPS also considered the matter in 2015 and decided no criminal charges should be brought against any officer.”“Following liaison with the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, the IPCC subsequently directed the MPS to hold gross misconduct and misconduct hearings in connection with those officers still serving. The CPS also considered the matter in 2015 and decided no criminal charges should be brought against any officer.”
Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, who has supported the Lewis family throughout their campaign for justice, said the jury had reached the most damning possible conclusions on the actions of police and medics. Deborah Coles, the director of Inquest, who has supported the Lewis family throughout their campaign for justice, said the jury had reached the most damning possible conclusions on the actions of police and medics.
“This was a most horrific death,” she said. “Eleven police officers were involved in holding down a terrified young man until his complete collapse, legs and hands bound in limb restraints, while mental health staff stood by.“This was a most horrific death,” she said. “Eleven police officers were involved in holding down a terrified young man until his complete collapse, legs and hands bound in limb restraints, while mental health staff stood by.
“Officers knew the dangers of this restraint but chose to go against clear, unequivocal training. Evidence heard at this inquest begs the question of how racial stereotyping informed Seni’s brutal treatment.”“Officers knew the dangers of this restraint but chose to go against clear, unequivocal training. Evidence heard at this inquest begs the question of how racial stereotyping informed Seni’s brutal treatment.”
A Health and Safety Executive investigation into Lewis’s death is pending following the conclusion of the inquest.