Frustrating wait for “justice” continues

It is now three years since Sheku Bayoh died while in police custody. The case has made countless headlines, but a true picture outlining precisely how he met his fate has been conspicuous only by its absence.

The 31-year-old Fifer died after being restrained by officers responding to a call in Kirkcaldy.

His family have repeatedly called for answers and clearly feel they have been denied the opportunity of any kind of justice — or indeed closure. Their frustration is understandable.

Now they are seeking to bring a civil action against Police Scotland. It is a unique case and it will be fascinating to see what progress is made.

The lawyer for Mr Bayoh’s distraught family said they were taking action as they had decided “enough is enough”.

There is little doubt the amount of time taken to examine the circumstances surrounding the death would appear to most reasonable people to be excessive.

Clearly the family believe the police have something to hide and, with their emotions still raw, one can quite appreciate how distraught they must be amid all the continuing uncertainty.

The wait for what they see as justice has been painfully long — sadly the possibility of any meaningful outcome still feels frustratingly remote.