from Birmingham Post
6th November 2009
A witness has described seeing a police car run into a man who later died in police custody.
Michael Powell died six years ago in a prison cell at Thornhill Road Police Station after being arrested for smashing windows and violent behaviour outside his family home in Lozells.
His family have maintained that heavy-handed behaviour on the part of police prior to his death was racially motivated.
Speaking at an inquest into his death Ernest Walters, a family friend who was dating Mr Powell’s sister, said he saw the 38-year-old standing in front of a police car when it revved its engine and ran him over, causing him to be flipped up on to the bonnet of the car before rolling off the roof.
