INQUEST supports legal challenge to the guidance on Inquest funding

INQUEST UPDATE: Verdict expected soon!source: INQUEST
published: 5 February 2015

At a hearing for permission for Judicial Review on 2nd October 2014, Joanna Letts was granted permission to pursue her challenge that the Lord Chancellor’s Guidance on Inquest funding is flawed and unlawful. 

The full hearing [took place] on 5th February.  The Equality and Human Rights Commission has been granted permission to Intervene in the case due to its importance.

The Facts

Joanna Letts, is a single mother, with four young children and she lives in Lambeth. Her brother, Christopher Letts was aged 29 when on 19.8.2013 he threw himself under a train at Tooting Bec station whilst mentally unwell.

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Grieving mum: ‘More evidence needed on anti-psychotic drugs’

Jonathan Maliasource: The Voice Online
published: 21 October 2014

The family of a physically healthy young man who died after being restrained on a mental health ward has vowed to continue fighting for justice after an inquest returned a “natural causes” verdict.

Jonathan Malia sought help for bipolar disorder in January 2013 and was transferred to the private Cygnet Hospital in Stevenage Hertfordshire.

It is thought the 24-year-old died from a heart attack caused by a blood clot. But relatives say they learnt that the father-of-one had injuries to both his head and arms when he arrived at hospital, which they believe were sustained in transit.

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Police officers in Sean Rigg death in custody case will not be prosecuted

Justice for Sean Riggsource: The Guardian
published: 7 October 2014

Two police officers whose evidence on oath about the death of a man in police custody was contradicted by CCTV evidence will not face criminal charges, prosecutors have said.

The officers were investigated following the death of Sean Rigg, a musician who died in 2008 after being arrested and restrained by police in south London.

Sgt Paul White and PC Mark Harratt were arrested on suspicion of lying at an inquest into the death of Rigg, and during interviews with investigators from the Independent Police Complaints Commission IPCC.

An inquest jury in 2012 found police actions had contributed to Rigg’s death, after he was held down in a V shape in a prone position for eight minutes. The inquest verdict followed a flawed first IPCC investigation, which exonerated officers.

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