More experts drafted in to help solve Bayoh case
As many as 13 leading pathologists will work to break the deadlock
UP to 13 top pathologists are being brought in to help break a deadlock i n the investigation into the death of sheku Bayoh in police custody.
the cause of the 31-year-old’s death in May remains ‘inconclusive’, although his family believe he died of ‘positional asphyxiat i on’ when police offi cers brought him to the ground and restrained him in Kirkcaldy.
Yesterday it emerged the Police investigations and review Commissioner (PirC) had identified a pool of eight forensic pathologists in the hope of establishing a firm cause of death in what has become a highly sensitive case.
these are in addition to two experts who have already been drafted in to provide expert opin- ion. Mr Bayoh’s family have identified three more pathologists they want involved in the case.
revelations of the fresh bid to discover what ki l l ed sierra leonean Mr Bayoh came amid tensions over the case this week.
One of the police officers involved i n restraining Mr Bayoh was accused by members of his own family of being a violent racist.
father-of-two Mr Bayoh was con- fronted by several officers in Kirkcaldy on May 3 after members of the public called police to report a man wielding a knife and acting erratically. it is understood Mr Bayoh had taken ecstasy.
he was no longer carrying a knife when the police arrived but PirC investigators confirm a knife was later found nearby.
it is alleged police used Cs spray, pepper spray and batons to restrain Mr Bayoh. Wrist and ankle restraints were also used.
A post-mortem report showed he had nearly 30 injuries on his head, chest, lower legs and left arm.
No clear cause of death was identified, however, and while it remains uncertain what killed him there is little prospect of any criminal proceedings resulting from the current investigation. the Bayohs’ lawyer Aamer Anwar has already said the family has lost confidence in the PirC investigation.
he added that Mr Bayoh ‘had no previous history of violence. Yet ironically all along Police scotland knew that was not the case for at least one of the officers.’
Nine police officers present at the scene have been questioned by PirC about their role in the incident. they are being treated as ‘witnesses’ rather than ‘suspects’.
A spokesman for Commissioner Kate frame said: ‘the family were offered the opportunity to participate in the process of identifying further expert forensic pathologists to provide an opinion on how sheku Bayoh died.
‘they have now nominated three experts, whose details have been shared with the lord Advocate for his consideration.
‘the Commissioner is also in the process of gathering further expert opinion by consulting some of the most eminent professionals in the area of pathology.’