«Breaking News» Five Met Police officers are cleared of misconduct over musician who died in custody

Five Metropolitan Police officers have been cleared of misconduct over the death of musician Sean Rigg, who died in custody at Brixton Police station in 2008.

Police Constables Andrew Birks, Richard Glasson, Matthew Forward, Mark Harratt and Sergeant Paul White faced disciplinary charges more than a decade after the 40-year-old died.

Investigations have been ongoing for so long that Mr Birks is now an ordained priest but he is still paid a police salary because he was not allowed to resign while proceeding were ongoing.

The siblings of Sean Rigg, Marcia and Wayne (pictured), fought for justice for their brother after he died in police custody

Commander Julian Bennett, the chairman of the hearing panel, said today: 'The decision of the panel is that none of the allegations are proved.'

In the wake of the 10-year investigation, the Police Federation, which represents officers, has called for a year time limit for displinary proceedings after a number of cases have taken several years to be completed.

Marcia, Mr Rigg's sister, who has campaigned for nearly 11 years to get the truth of what happened to her brother, said: 'It's been traumatic, sleepless nights, anger. Reliving the death at various stages in these 10-and-a-half years that no family should have to go through.'

Mr Rigg, who was a paranoid schizophrenia but was physically fit, died at Brixton Police station in August 2008.

It took four years for a full inquest to be carried out after a jury found 'unsuitable' force was used. 

It then took another four years before prosecutors confirmed no criminal charges would be brought over his death, apart from one count of perjury against Mr White, of which he was cleared.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has come under fire for the delays involved in the case.  

Investigators carried out dawn raids and seized Mr Harratt's personal phone amid claims of dishonesty.

The Metropolitan Police and IOPC brought forward a displinary case but it crumbled in mid-February when several charges were grown out.

Sean Rigg was deemed to be physically fit before his death but died in Brixton police station

Mr Harratt, Mr Glasson and Mr Forward were charged with gross misconduct over claims they lied Mr Ridd had spun himself in the back of the police van and collapsed. 

A panel found their version of events to be 'extremely tenous' and was backed up by an expert witness who made a 3D animation of a figure carrying out the movement the trio had described.

But the expert witness changed their conclusion after Mr Forward filmed himself in the back of the van moving in the way he had described Mr Rigg as moving. 

A pathologist was due to give evidence on the count was unable to appear in person to be crossed examined so his account was ruled inadmissible. 

Inspector Andrew Dunn refused to give any verbal evidence in protest at the length of time the proceedings went on for. 

He repeatedly referred lawyers back to his written statement and even refused to say whether he recognised himself in CCTV footage from the police station on the night Mr Rigg died.

The panel also found no case to answer for a separate count against Mr Harratt over an alleged failure to check Mr Rigg's passport details on the Police National Computer. 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/01/five-met-police-officers-are-cleared-of-misconduct-over-musician-who-died-in-custody/
Main photo article Five Metropolitan Police officers have been cleared of misconduct over the death of musician Sean Rigg, who died in custody at Brixton Police station in 2008.
Police Constables Andrew Birks, Richard Glasson, Matthew Forward, Mark Harratt and Sergeant Paul White faced disciplinary charges more ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





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