PRESS 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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Family announcement:
29th November 2009

Poet and writer, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah, took time out of his hectic schedule to attend the inquest of his cousin Mikey Powell, who died whilst in police custody.

Zephaniah will be attending on Wednesday 2nd December 2009, and invites the press and other interested parties to attend a press conference with himself and other members of the family and legal team.

The inquest into the death of Mikey Powell commenced on 4th November 2009. It is scheduled to run until 16th December 2009. at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands.

Mikey was detained outside his mother’s house in the Lozells area of Birmingham on 7th September 2003.

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PRESS RELEASE
Released 29 October 2009

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INQUEST OPENS AFTER SIX YEAR WAIT

10am Wednesday 4 November 2009 before HM Coroner (Assistant Deputy Campbell) for Birmingham, sitting at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall, Upper Clifton Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B73 6AB (close to Sutton Coldfield railway station). The inquest into the controversial death in police custody of Michael Lloyd Powell (known as Mikey) opens on Wednesday 4 November 2009, and is expected to last for six weeks. Mikey was a cousin of the renowned poet and writer, Benjamin Zephaniah, a patron of INQUEST.

Mikey Powell was a fit and healthy 38 year old black man and a father of three young children. He had suffered several short episodes of mental illness in the past from which he had recovered. One of these episodes occurred on 7 September 2003. Police had previously dealt appropriately with Mikey and were called again on this occasion by concerned family members.

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