Coroner probes case of man who died after restraint by police officers

A CORONER will examine the case of a 26-year-old man who died after being restrained by police officers.

Kaine Fletcher died at Queen’s Medical Centre on July 3, 2022, “as a result of the physiological effects of exertion”, a pre-inquest review hearing was told.

The hearing, to discuss the scope of the inquest, took place on Friday and was led by coroner Laurinda Bower at Nottingham Coroner’s Court.

It was told Mr Fletcher was restrained by police on the day of his death, and that the death was “contributed to by cocaine and other substances”.

The hearing was attended virtually by Mr Fletcher’s father, Nathaniel Ameyaw, and other family members, as well as representatives from Nottinghamshire Police, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.

An investigation is being held by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), into Nottinghamshire Police officers’ contact with Mr Fletcher prior to his death in hospital after detention. Coroner Bower told the hearing her investigation had been paused to allow for the completion of the IOPC investigation.

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “Following a referral from Nottinghamshire Police in July 2022 we began an investigation into their officers’ contact with Kaine Fletcher prior to his death in hospital after detention.

“We have now completed our enquiries and the investigation report is being finalised.”

During the hearing, Ms Bower said: “I need to scrutinise the actions of agents of the state to see whether all reasonable steps were taken to seek to avoid his death, or whether any actions have caused or contributed to death.”

Ms Bower said there was “a significant likelihood” that the proceedings will resume in front of a jury, formed of 11 members of the public, in June.