Sheku Bayoh’ s injuries ‘similar to crowd crush’

Apathologist involved in a reinvestigation into the Hillsborough disaster has said haemorrhaging found on Sheku Bayoh following his death in police custody was similar to that suffered by people in crowd crushes.

Consultant forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Cary raised the similarity as he was fielding questions during the ongoing public inquiry into the 31-yearold’s death eight years ago.

The father-of-two died after he was restrained by around six police officers responding to reports of him acting erratically in Kirkcaldy on May 3, 2015.

Dr Cary was asked about petechial haemorrhaging found on Mr Bayoh’s face during post-mortem tests.

Senior counsel to the inquiry, Angela Grahame KC, asked Dr Cary if the haemorrhaging was a sign of positional or mechanical asphyxia, the former being something Mr Bayoh’s family have previously suggested caused his death.

Dr Cary said: “Positional alone, just being flat on your front, won’t give you petechial haemorrhages. It implies a degree of mechanical asphyxia.

“In restraint-related death, they are quite uncommon. So when they are present, this case becomes more like a crush asphyxia, where someone has been in a crowd crush.”

Asked what caused mechanical asphyxia, Dr Cary continued: “The chest being squeezed very hard. In fact, the trunk overall.”

Requested to explain the level of force required to bring about a case of mechanical asphyxia, Dr Cary said: “I go back to crowd crushing. We know the sorts of level of force developing in a crowd. It’s often substantial force.

“I think if you have multiple individuals applying that force – particularly if they’re quite heavy – then you develop sufficient force to get this degree of mechanical asphyxia.”

At this point Ms Grahame reminded the inquiry it earlier heard evidence of the equivalent of around 25 stone of pressure potentially being applied to Mr Bayoh by police officers in attempts to restrain him.

Dr Cary confirmed that kind of weight could cause mechanical asphyxia. “That is the type of level,” he said. “That is a lot of force.”

The independent public inquiry in Edinburgh is examining the circumstances leading to Mr Bayoh’s death, the subsequent investigation and whether race was a factor.

The probe has already heard from pathologist Dr Kerryanne Shearer, who examined Mr Bayoh following his death and stated his struggle with police while being restrained ought to be considered a “major” part of what led to it.

The inquiry, which is being chaired by Lord Bracadale, continues.

We know the level of force in a crowd. It’s often substantial

PUBLIC INQUIRY: Father-of-two Mr Bayoh died after he was restrained by around six police officers responding to reports of him acting erratically in Kirkcaldy in 2015.