Family of Kingsley Burrell call for inquiry after police officers cleared
The family of Kingsley Burrell have called for a public inquiry into his death after three West Midlands Police officers were cleared of lying at his inquest.
Mr Burrell, from Walsall, died in hospital in 2011 having suffered a heart attack. He had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act and transferred to hospital three days later after police were called to a disturbance involving the 29-year-old at a secure unit.
The inquest in 2015 concluded neglect by police, paramedics and hospital staff played a part in his death – and that a covering, put over Mr Burrell’s head as he’d spat at paramedics during his transfer, should have been removed.
But Pcs Paul Adey, 37, Mark Fannan, 45 and Paul Greenfield, 51, were found not guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice on Wednesday.
Speaking outside court, Mr Burrell's relatives and supporters, including his sister, Kadisha Brown-Burrell, and mother, Janet Brown, expressed disappointment at the verdicts.
Family spokesman Desmond Jaddoo called for a fresh review of all the evidence surrounding Mr Burrell's death.
He also renewed a call, first made after the inquest, for a full public inquiry into the circumstances of the father-of-three's treatment.
Mr Jaddoo said: "The damning narrative inquest verdict of neglect against West Midlands Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the NHS is yet to be acted upon.
"We request that the Home Secretary now place our 2015 request for a public inquiry into these systemic failings back on the agenda, as promised, following the conclusion of these proceedings."
Responding to the family's call for a further review, the CPS said: "There remains insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any officers or medical health professionals involved in the restraint and treatment of Kingsley Burrell.
"In 2014 the CPS concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone for unlawful act manslaughter, gross negligence manslaughter, misconduct in public office, ill-treatment of a mentally disordered patient, or assault."
West Midlands Police Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said: "Our officers had a number of interactions with Mr Burrell in the four days prior to his death so we voluntarily referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
"The role these three officers played in the detention of Mr Burrell has now been thoroughly examined by independent investigators.
"We do not under-estimate the impact this investigation has had on Kingsley's family, the wider community and the officers."
