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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/26/dalian-atkinson-worries-over-postmortem-delay-decision-over-charges
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| Dalian Atkinson: worries over postmortem delay decision over charges | Dalian Atkinson: worries over postmortem delay decision over charges |
| (8 days later) | |
| A decision over whether police officers should face charges over the death of a former footballer who collapsed after being hit with a stun gun has been delayed because of concerns that postmortem tests may have been compromised. | A decision over whether police officers should face charges over the death of a former footballer who collapsed after being hit with a stun gun has been delayed because of concerns that postmortem tests may have been compromised. |
| Dalian Atkinson, a former Premier League football star, died in August 2016 aged 48 following a clash with police outside his father’s home in Telford, Shropshire. | Dalian Atkinson, a former Premier League football star, died in August 2016 aged 48 following a clash with police outside his father’s home in Telford, Shropshire. |
| Three West Mercia police officers have been interviewed under criminal caution, but a decision on whether a file should be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been stalled because of a “quality failure” within a company called Randox Testing Services (RTS) that was tasked with carrying out toxicology testing in relation to the case. | Three West Mercia police officers have been interviewed under criminal caution, but a decision on whether a file should be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been stalled because of a “quality failure” within a company called Randox Testing Services (RTS) that was tasked with carrying out toxicology testing in relation to the case. |
| The delay is hugely frustrating for family and friends of Atkinson who have said they are determined to discover the truth about his death. | The delay is hugely frustrating for family and friends of Atkinson who have said they are determined to discover the truth about his death. |
| At a pre-inquest review in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, it emerged that retesting of the samples – which is being carried out by Avon and Somerset police – would not be complete until next month, 14 months after Atkinson died. | At a pre-inquest review in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, it emerged that retesting of the samples – which is being carried out by Avon and Somerset police – would not be complete until next month, 14 months after Atkinson died. |
| West Mercia police have said the incident that led to Atkinson’s death followed officers being called in the early hours to reports of concerns for a person’s safety. | West Mercia police have said the incident that led to Atkinson’s death followed officers being called in the early hours to reports of concerns for a person’s safety. |
| There was a clash between Atkinson and officers. Atkinson collapsed and medical staff tried to revive him for 35 minutes. He was pronounced dead 90 minutes after police arrived. | There was a clash between Atkinson and officers. Atkinson collapsed and medical staff tried to revive him for 35 minutes. He was pronounced dead 90 minutes after police arrived. |
| Hours before his death, Atkinson, a former player for Aston Villa and Manchester City, spoke to one of his sisters, Otis, about his worries over his deteriorating health. | Hours before his death, Atkinson, a former player for Aston Villa and Manchester City, spoke to one of his sisters, Otis, about his worries over his deteriorating health. |
| At the pre-inquest review, Paul Marriott, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) case supervisor, said RTS had completed the toxicology work on the samples. | At the pre-inquest review, Paul Marriott, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) case supervisor, said RTS had completed the toxicology work on the samples. |
| He continued: “However, a quality failure within RTS was subsequently identified, which potentially compromised a significant number of cases across the criminal justice system nationally. | He continued: “However, a quality failure within RTS was subsequently identified, which potentially compromised a significant number of cases across the criminal justice system nationally. |
| “Due to the number of cases impacted by this Randox issue, Avon and Somerset police were tasked to coordinate the retesting nationally.” | “Due to the number of cases impacted by this Randox issue, Avon and Somerset police were tasked to coordinate the retesting nationally.” |
| After the Shrewsbury coroner, John Ellery, raised concern about how long the process was taking in relation to Atkinson, the samples were sent for “urgent” retesting last week. | After the Shrewsbury coroner, John Ellery, raised concern about how long the process was taking in relation to Atkinson, the samples were sent for “urgent” retesting last week. |
| Marriott said: “We have ben advised in the last weeks that the full toxicology analysis will be completed in the week commencing 2 October.” | Marriott said: “We have ben advised in the last weeks that the full toxicology analysis will be completed in the week commencing 2 October.” |
| Once the toxicology results are complete, a final postmortem can be produced and the IPCC will produce its report. An IPCC commissioner will decide if a referral to the CPS will be made. Marriott said he hoped the investigation would be finished by January. | Once the toxicology results are complete, a final postmortem can be produced and the IPCC will produce its report. An IPCC commissioner will decide if a referral to the CPS will be made. Marriott said he hoped the investigation would be finished by January. |
| The IPCC said last month that three West Mercia police officers have been interviewed under criminal caution and served with gross misconduct notices. IPCC investigators have spoken to about 15 other police officers as witnesses. | The IPCC said last month that three West Mercia police officers have been interviewed under criminal caution and served with gross misconduct notices. IPCC investigators have spoken to about 15 other police officers as witnesses. |
| Atkinson was a star of an Aston Villa team that was runner-up in the Premier League in 1992, during which he scored Match of the Day’s goal of the season. | Atkinson was a star of an Aston Villa team that was runner-up in the Premier League in 1992, during which he scored Match of the Day’s goal of the season. |
| His career began at Ipswich Town and he played for Sheffield Wednesday and the Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa. He retired from professional football at the age of 33 in 2001. | His career began at Ipswich Town and he played for Sheffield Wednesday and the Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa. He retired from professional football at the age of 33 in 2001. |
| Police fear scores of convictions may face challenges to their safety because of the issue at the Randox laboratory in Manchester. More than 6,000 samples could have been affected, according to the National Police Chiefs Council. | Police fear scores of convictions may face challenges to their safety because of the issue at the Randox laboratory in Manchester. More than 6,000 samples could have been affected, according to the National Police Chiefs Council. |