4WardEverUK

Western troops accused of executing Afghan civilians and children

Soldiersoriginally published by: Times Online
31st December 2009

American-led troops were accused yesterday of dragging innocent children from their beds and shooting them during a night raid that left ten people dead. Afghan government investigators said that eight schoolchildren were killed, all but one of them from the same family. Locals said that some victims were handcuffed before being killed.

Western military sources said that the dead were all part of an Afghan terrorist cell responsible for manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which have claimed the lives of countless soldiers and civilians.

Continue reading

4WardEverUK

Inquests fail to restrain the police

Police Officers On Dutyfrom the Mikey Powell Campaign
published: 9th January 2010

The following is the full unedited version of an article written by Simon Hattenstone. Simon is a features writer for the Guardian, and this article has been reproduced with his consent.

See version published on The Guardian website >
(originally published: 27th December 2009)

Last Friday an inquest reached a shocking conclusion, though you’d be hard pressed to have heard about it. In a damning narrative verdict, the jury concluded that Mikey Powell had died from positional asphyxia following police restraint.

Continue reading

4WardEverUK

Police criticised over cocaine custody death

Jason Oscar McPherson
Jason Oscar McPherson

originally published: 7th January 2010
all credits: The Independent

Police did not implement procedures “appropriately” when they dealt with a man who had a wrap of cocaine in his mouth, an inquest concluded today.

Jason McPherson, 25, of East Acton, west London, died after collapsing at a police station after being taken in to be searched on January 18, 2007.

He had put a packet of the drug in his mouth, which led to a struggle with officers at Notting Hill station, the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice heard. He died in hospital later.

The jury of 11 took five hours to return a narrative verdict on Mr McPherson’s death.

Continue reading