
source: BBC News
published: 11 November 2019
The family of a Fife man who died in police custody said they felt “betrayed” after being told that no-one will be prosecuted over his death. Sheku Bayoh never regained consciousness after being restrained by officers in a Kirkcaldy street in 2015.
The 31-year-old, who had taken the drugs MDMA and Flakka, was found to have suffered 23 separate injuries.
His family said CCTV and phone footage cast doubt on claims made by officers about events leading up to his death. They have described the decision not to prosecute the officers as a “betrayal of justice” and are now calling for a public inquiry
The Crown Office said the decision not to prosecute had been taken after a “thorough review” of all the available evidence. The officers involved have always denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Bayoh’s family had initially been told in October 2018 that no criminal charges would be brought over his death.
However, two months later evidence uncovered by BBC Scotland raised fresh questions about the way he had been treated by police officers before he died in their custody.