PRESS RELEASE – 26 MAY 2023 – SHEKU BAYOH PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE – 26 MAY 2023
SHEKU BAYOH PRESS RELEASE
Following the closed evidence session this morning of former PC Alan Paton a statement was issued on behalf of the family of Sheku Bayoh by solicitor Aamer Anwar.
“Yesterday’s acceptance of institutional racism was a significant moment for the family of Sheku Bayoh. Their lives were changed forever on the 3rd of May 2015.
Fighting for a robust investigation, never mind achieving justice, has involved the Bayoh’s in enormous challenges and obstacles at great personal cost to the emotional and physical health of their family, young and old.
Mr Paton has always been a significant witness, at the heart of the death in police custody of Sheku Bayoh.
The Inquiry on a previous occasion allowed Mr Paton to give his evidence in private which is available to view online, the fact that the wider public will not be allowed to view his second piece of evidence, is incredibly disappointing to the Bayoh family.
In the evidence viewed today, Alan Paton was asked about allegations made by his sister that his mother had told her when Alan Paton was a teenager “at the time that Alan had said he wanted to join the BNP and she had told him she would disown him if he did.”
Furthermore, Mr Paton was asked whether he “used to use racist remarks to the Asian family that lived around the corner”.
Alan Paton denied this.
He was then asked about his sister’s allegations that he used remarks like “black bastard”.
Alan Paton denied this.
Mr Paton was then asked about his brother-in-law’s statement alleging that he said “that black bastard” or the “Paki jokes”.
Alan Paton denied this.
Alan Paton asked about the evidence of civilian eyewitness Ashley Wyse that when Sheku was being restrained, “the man kept making roaring noise” and “shouted something similar to get off me”.
Alan Paton denied this. He stated:
“throughout my engagement with Mr Bayoh he uttered not one word, not one single word, he made no sounds – nothing. From my initial engagement with him to the conclusion of my involvement he remained silent…”
Alan Paton was then asked about the statement of former Police Officer and Scottish Police Federation representative Austin Barratt.
Constable Barratt had stated that on the morning of the 3rd of May 2015, PCs Walker and Paton had walked into his office needing Federation help.
He stated, “they said that they needed advice because they had just killed someone. Craig said, ‘We’ve just killed someone.’”
Alan Paton in his evidence said at no point did he speak to Austin Barratt and was “adamant that this wasn’t said”.
A full transcript of Mr Paton’s evidence has been published online and is linked below.
As this chapter of evidence concludes – No one should forget that Sheku Bayoh lost his life, his two boys are growing up without their father, his partner Collette was left devastated by his loss, a heartbroken mother had to bury her son, and his sisters are left without their baby brother.
Sheku’s loved ones will never give up the search for truth no matter what obstacles are placed in their path.
This Inquiry still has a long way to go, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
BACKGROUND
Link to transcript from recording:
https://www.shekubayohinquiry.scot/hearings/evidence-alan-paton-rule-9-examination-26052023-am
Previous video evidence:
AM https://www.youtube.com/live/8pgD058YG84?feature=share
PM https://youtu.be/t1sJRxlA6gU
Link to Inquiry website with all disclosure relevant to Paton:
Decision not to publish link:
