PRESS RELEASE – 9TH OCTOBER 2024 – STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE SHEKU BAYOH FAMILY AT THE CLOSE OF INQUIRY EVIDENTIAL HEARINGS
Press Release
9th October 2024
SHEKU BAYOH PUBLIC INQUIRY
STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE BAYOH FAMILY AT THE CLOSE OF EVIDENTIAL HEARINGS
Statement by Aamer Anwar, Solicitor on behalf of the Sheku Bayoh family:
“On the 3rd of May 2015, Sheku Bayoh met his death after being restrained by up to six police officers. Sheku was unarmed, but within the first 45 seconds of the police arriving he was face down on the ground, having been Pava sprayed, CS sprayed, battened to the head and body, he was handcuffed, ankle and leg restraints were applied, his body was covered with over 24 cuts, bruises, a fractured rib and lacerations. In less than 4 minutes, Sheku lost consciousness as he struggled for his last breath. For the family and community this was not a death in police custody, but suspected police killing.
His loved ones were forced to set up a campaign. Over the years it became clear to the family, that the police, PIRC, and Crown Office has operated an unholy trinity of dishonesty, racism and incompetence, betraying the word justice. This inquiry is testament to a family who have refused to allow the system to smear and negate Sheku’s right to life.
Their treatment was compounded by attacks from the Scottish Police Federation and others who remain in a ‘child-like’ denial about the existence of racism in policing today. The former Lord Advocate James Wolfe is accused by the Sheku Bayoh family of engaging in a deliberate and cynical attempt to escape scrutiny of the breach of promises made to the Bayoh family and Collette Bell, by refusing to allow the inquiry to examine his decision not to prosecute.
Kate Forbes, as Deputy First Minister was asked several weeks ago to expand the Terms of Reference by the Chair, to allow this Inquiry to examine and investigate why the Crown Office did not prosecute the police officers or Police Scotland. For five weeks this Inquiry and the family have awaited a response, it is deeply insulting that this Government is deliberately stonewalling not just them but ignoring Lord Bracadale. Today to put it bluntly, Kate Forbes was asked at the end of evidence, to hurry up and make a decision by Lord Bracadale. Kate Forbes will also be aware that the leaders of the opposition have also backed the families demands.
It cannot be right that in 2024, the Crown Office the most powerful institution in our country tasked with protecting us from our guardians of law and order when they abuse the rule of law- are unaccountable themselves. Unless those terms are expanded, family after family will continue to be denied justice by an archaic rule, leaving the Crown Office who when they fail in their public duty, can simply cover it up.
The Bayoh family are deeply grateful to Lord Bracadale and his team for their robust and impartial inquiry, but they now they must directly appeal to Kate Forbes to fulfil her Government’s promise to them to deliver the whole truth, and not to be complicit in the final betrayal of justice.”
