from Birmingham Post
4th November 2009
A Birmingham man with a history of mental illness died in police custody after being struck by a patrol car called to his home, an inquest jury has been told.
The panel heard that Michael Powell, 38, was also struck with a baton before being restrained and taken to Thornhill Road police station in September 2003. Opening the inquest, which is expected to last for six weeks, the assistant deputy coroner for Birmingham, Stephen Campbell, said medical experts did not believe that Mr Powell died as a result of being struck by the car or the baton.
