Other Custody Deaths

Tippa Naphtali

Families of men with mental health issues who died in custody welcome new report

Thomas Orchard
Thomas Orchard

source: ITV News
published: 30 October 2017

The families of two men with mental health issues who died in police custody has welcomed a report into how vulnerable people should be treated by emergency services. 32-year-old Thomas Orchard died in police custody in Exeter in 2012 and 25-year-old James Herbert died at Yeovil Police Station seven years ago.

The report into deaths in custody was ordered by Theresa May when she was the Home Secretary. It has stressed mentally ill people should never be held in cells.

Thomas Orchard suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and his family say being held in Exeter’s Heavitree Road Police Station made his condition worse. Before reaching the station Mr Orchard was handcuffed and bundled into a van. Moments before falling unconscious, a restraint was wrapped around his head.

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Tippa Naphtali

Lack of inquest legal aid for bereaved families a ‘false economy’

Legal Gavelsource: The Law Gazette
published: 31 October 2017

Bereaved families of people who have died in police custody could be spared the ordeal of applying for legal aid, the government has hinted.

Responding to Dame Elish Angiolini QC’s independent review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody, published yesterday, the government said the lord chancellor will review existing guidance ‘so that it is clear that the starting presumption is that legal aid should be awarded for representation of the bereaved at an inquest’ subject to the director of legal aid casework’s ‘overarching discretion’.

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Larry Fedja

Family of Mzee Mohammed no closer to finding out how he died

Mzee Mohammed family @ UFFC demo 2016 - Image credit Wasi Daniju
Mzee Mohammed family @ UFFC demo 2016 – Image credit Wasi Daniju

source: Liverpool Echo
published: 11 November 2016

Medical experts still do not know how popular teen Mzee Mohammed died, four months on from his death. The 18-year-old passed away after falling unwell while being detained by police and security staff in Liverpool ONE.

Area coroner Andre Rebello today issued a new appeal for witnesses as he called on the public to help end the mystery surrounding the tragedy.

Mr Mohammed was detained following an incident at the Chips-A-Go-Go fast food kiosk near John Lewis on the evening of July 13.

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