from Socialist Worker Online
1st December 2009

Mikey Powell died in police custody because of the way he was restrained, a medical expert told the ongoing inquest into the Birmingham man’s death.

Evidence is continuing to be heard at an inquest at Sutton Coldfield town hall into the death of Mikey Powell. He died six years ago in a prison cell at Thornhill Road police station after being arrested outside his family home in Lozells, Birmingham. Officers used CS gas and physical force to control Mikey after he smashed windows at his mother’s home in September 2003.

He was handcuffed, bundled into a van and taken to Thornhill Road police station in Handsworth where he died after suffering a cardiac arrest. It is not known if Mikey was forced to lie face down or on his side in the police van.

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from Birmingham Mail
25th November 2009

A man died in police custody in Birmingham because of the way he was restrained, a medical expert told an inquest jury.

Officers used CS gas and physical force to control father-of-three Michael Powell after he smashed windows at his mother’s home in Wilton Street, Lozells, in September 2003. He was eventually handcuffed, bundled into a van and taken to Thornhill Road police station in Handsworth where he died after suffering a cardiac arrest. It is not known if Mr Powell, 38, was forced to lie face down or on his side in the police van.

Forensic pathologist Jack Crane said a “critical” event had happened in the van which caused Mr Powell to die of positional asphyxia – a condition which occurs when someone’s position prevents them from breathing adequately.

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