Day: 18th December 2009

4WardEverUK

Powell family applaud jury verdict

For Mikeyfrom the Mikey Powell Campaign
18th December 2009

The family and supporters of Mikey Powell have spoken of their relief following a damning jury verdict that he was killed in police custody.

Mikey died on 7th September 2003 after police attended his mothers home in Lozells, Birmingham because Mikey had smashed windows at the home whilst suffering a breakdown. Mikey was run down by a police car and was injured but survived the collision. The inquest heard that a family friend held him in a bear hug to try and prevent further trouble.

However the police discharged more than four times the recommended amount of CS spray on both Mikey and his friend, and hit him with a police baton. Up to eight officers held him down on the ground for at least 16 minutes and then took him to a police station and not a hospital.

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INQUEST Press Release: Jury Find Police Restraint Killed Mikey Powell

INQUESTPRESS RELEASE

For immediate release 18 December 2009
(updated Pt3 ‘Jury Findings’ – 09 Jan 2010)

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The jury at the inquest into the controversial death in police custody in 2003 of Michael Lloyd Powell (known as Mikey) today returned a damning narrative verdict and found that the way that he was restrained resulted in his death from positional asphyxia (see below).

The inquest opened on 4 November 2009, over six years after his death in September 2003 and was heard at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall before HM Assistant Deputy Coroner for Birmingham, Stephen Campbell.

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Jury find police restraint killed Mikey Powell

Mikey's final resting placefrom Black Mental Health UK
16th December 2009

The jury at the inquest into the tragic death while in police custody of service user Michael Lloyd Powell (known as Mikey) today returned a damning verdict  and found that the way that he was restrained resulted in his death from positional asphyxia.

We have worked for six years to reach this point – the jury have found that the position the police put Mikey in killed him .   Hopefully this will give some encouragement to other families who have lost someone in custody,’ Mikey’s sister Sieta Lambrias said.

This landmark case has gripped the attention of with large sections of the community who are increasingly concerned about how police officers treat vulnerable black service users when they are taken into custody.

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