1 February 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Musician found dead after fleeing police (inquest hears)

originally by: The Star
published: 1st February 2012

A musician was found dead in a Sheffield canal five days after fleeing a police search, his inquest heard. Wayne Hamilton, of Albert Road, Heeley, ran after officers stopped friend Lewis Trotman’s car on Shirland Lane, Attercliffe, Sheffield, in the early hours of June 10, 2010.

His body was found in the nearby Sheffield and Tinsley Canal five days later. Read 4WardEver UK case profile >

A Sheffield jury inquest yesterday heard Mr Trotman say police started to follow the bandmates as they returned to their Attercliffe recording studio after buying refreshments. Jurors heard the two officers who stopped them believed they could smell cannabis.

1 February 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Unproven science used to ‘explain’ custody deaths

originally by: TBIJ
published: 31st January 2012

A controversial unproven syndrome with roots in the US is being used in British coroners’ courts to explain why people die after police restraint.

‘Excited delirium’ or ‘sudden-in-custody-death-syndrome’ is a niche diagnosis not yet recognised by the World Health Organisation or any international authority. A number of leading pathologists have expressed concern about the use of the term in inquests.

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Individuals in the throes of ‘excited delirium’ are described as aggressive, agitated, displaying bizarre behaviour, insensitive to pain and with superhuman strength until they collapse and die

28 January 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police told to reopen Chhokar case

originally by: The Independent
published: 26th January 2012

A police force has been told to reopen the investigation into the murder of an Asian man more than 13 years ago. The family of Surjit Singh Chhokar met with Scotland’s top law officer today who confirmed Strathclyde Police have been instructed to carry out further investigations into his murder under double jeopardy legislation.

Mr Chhokar was stabbed to death outside the home he shared with his girlfriend in Overtown, Lanarkshire, on November 4 1998. The murder, which has been dubbed “Scotland’s Stephen Lawrence”, sparked controversy after the failure of authorities to secure a conviction for his killing despite the arrests of three men and two subsequent trials.