originally by: Mail Online
published: 3 May 2013
Two police officers have been found not guilty of allowing a mentally ill man to die in front of them after detaining him in his home.
PCs Maurice Leigh and Neil Bowdery, of Kent Police, both denied misconduct in public office over the death of paranoid schizophrenic Colin Holt.
Mr Holt, 52, died from positional asphyxia at his flat in Gillingham, Kent, on August 30, 2010 after the officers were called to return him to hospital under a Mental Health Act order.
It was alleged at Maidstone Crown Court that Leigh, 54, and Bowdery, 29, failed to reposition Mr Holt and check on his welfare after he stopped struggling as they detained him.
Today both officers were cleared, a court official confirmed. In a statement following the case, Kent Police said: ‘The death of Colin Holt is a tragedy for everyone concerned. Kent Police offers its sincere condolences to Mr Holt’s family and friends.”
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