The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Sheku Bayoh’s family to finally learn if police will face prosecution INVESTIGATION: Fight for answers over Fife man’s death in custody
Relatives of a Fife man who died while in police custody are expected to finally learn on Monday if Police Scotland or any of the officers involved in his detention will face prosecution over his death.
Father-of-two Sheku Bayoh died on May 3 2015 following an incident involving several police officers in a Kirkcaldy street. His family has been fighting for answers ever since.
The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) investigated the circumstances surrounding the 32-year-old’s death and reported back to the Lord Advocate in August 2016 but he is still to confirm whether there will be criminal prosecutions, a health and safety prosecution or no further action.
It has emerged law officers are due to meet with Mr Bayoh’s mother Aminata, sisters Kadijartu Johnson and Adama Jalloh, and brother-in-law Ade Johnson on Monday to reveal the decision on their pursuit of criminal charges.
The family’s solicitor Aamer Anwar, who is expected to attend the meeting at the Crown Office, hopes Lord Advocate
James Wolffe QC will give the family the answers they have been seeking.
He said: “Sheku’s family lost confidence a long time ago in the ability of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner to carry out a robust and impartial investigation, yet they have tried desperately to maintain confidence in the present Lord Advocate and his team.
“Sheku Bayoh was restrained by up to eight police officers who, despite his death, were never treated as suspects, only witnesses, therefore allowing them the opportunity to confer in a room in a police station for up to eight hours. They refused to give statements for 32 days.
“Had those who restrained him been civilians and not police officers, they would have automatically been treated as suspects.
“Would it have taken the Lord Advocate four years and six months to establish whether any of the civilians were culpable for his death?
“Would the Lord Advocate have used the tired excuse, that the ‘complexity of the case’ is behind the unacceptable delays in reaching his conclusion?”
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has said it is “committed to ensuring that the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Bayoh are fully aired in an appropriate legal forum”, but has been reluctant to make further comment to “protect any potential proceedings and to preserve the rights of the family”.