Officer in Bayoh case ‘thought she would die’

Father of WPC speaks out about how she was attacked by Kirkcaldy dad

A Fife police officer injured while confronting Sheku Bayoh in Kirkcaldy feared she was going to die, according to her father.

Nicole Short, 32, was one of the officers who responded to calls from the public reporting a man carrying a knife in the town on May 3 2015.

Her dad Thomas, 57, said the family had not been able to give their side of the story while the matter was investigated.

The Lord Advocate last week revealed no police officers would be prosecuted over the death of Mr Bayoh, who became unresponsive after he was restrained.

“We have been forced to stay silent for three years, knowing the truth of what happened that morning yet not being able to talk about it because of proceedings,” Mr Short told The Mail on Sunday.

He added: “She was scared. She thought she was going to die. She turned and started to run but he caught up quickly and she felt his fist suddenly connect with the back of her head.

It is unlikely that Miss Short will ever return to front-line policing after the incident, which left her with facial nerve damage, and also knee and back injuries.

Mr Short said she had been psychologically scarred.

“She still has nightmares and is a shadow of her former self.

“She’s gone from being an outgoing girl to living in various states of fear.

“It’s heartbreaking to watch. All we can do is support her.”

Following the Lord Advocate’s decision not to prosecute officers, Mr Bayoh’s family said they had been failed by the justice system.

The family’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said they would accept nothing less than a public inquiry by the Scottish Government into the death of the 31-year-old father of two.

Mr Anwar criticised the leaking of “selective material” while the family “maintains a dignified silence”.

He said: “They of course forget to mention that Sheku is face down on the ground within 46 seconds of the police first arriving, restrained by five officers, handcuffed, leg restraints, ankle cuffs, two officers who are weighing between 20 to 25 stones, that when the first three officers attack him they do so first without any violent reaction by him as he tries to walk away, or that this violent male never brandishes a knife, never uses one on them, nor is one ever found on him.

“No mention that Sheku has his back to the fourth officer Nicole Short trying to walk away as she goes after him ‘terrified’ for her life. What is it about a 5ft 10 in tall, 12 stones 10 pounds black male that has them so terrified?”

Nicole Short was one of the officers who responded.