Kingsley Burrell: Family call for inquiry as police officer sacked over Walsall man's death
The family of a mental health patient who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after being restrained by police have renewed calls for a public inquiry into the tragedy.
Kingsley Burrell died after being handcuffed and forced to wear leg restraints as police and medics transferred him to a mental health unit.
His family, who plan to hold a rally in Birmingham next month, have revealed they will write to Home Secretary Sajid Javid requesting further investigation.
It comes after one of three officers who faced misconduct allegations in relation to the Walsall man's death was sacked for lying.
WATCH: CCTV shows moments before cardiac arrest
Sister Kedisha Brown-Burrell said: "It has been an arduous journey for our family. No family should have [to deal with] an untimely death.
"The conduct of these officers, the disregard for Kingsley, the lack of care and ultimately, the lying at the inquest, criminal trial and now this misconduct hearing brings the police into disrepute.
"Losing their jobs is nothing compared to my one and only brother losing his life."
Gross misconduct
Pc Paul Adey, 39, was dismissed without notice for gross misconduct on Tuesday after he was found to have lied about a 'covering' placed over Mr Burrell's head and failed to remove it.
He claimed he did not see the covering - believed to be either a sheet, towel or blanket - along with colleagues Pcs Mark Fannon, 47, and Paul Greenfield, 52.
Mr Burrell's family said they were 'astonished' Pcs Fannon and Greenfield were cleared of all wrongdoing despite a police misconduct panel hearing they were within 'touching distance' of the patient.
All officers denied they had breached professional standards by using excessive force when restraining Mr Burrell and that they lied during his 2015 inquest.
The family of 29-year-old Mr Burrell added: "Yet again this decision falls short of sending a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated with the dismissal of only one of the officers.
"The Burrell family and the people of the West Midlands, need conduct of all police officers to be exemplary, as the they are there to serve the people and protect the community from harm, which we believe has not been demonstrated here, hence damaging trust and confidence further."
Sectioned
Mr Burrell was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and sent to Birmingham's Mary Seacole unit on March 27, 2011.
But three days later medical staff called police after Mr Burrell threatened to kill them, brandishing a toothbrush.
He was taken to the emergency department at the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment to a left eye injury following a 'prolonged and violent struggle' with officers.
Police and medics then transferred him to a seclusion room at the city's Oleaster facility in handcuffs, leg restraints and with an item placed over his face by a paramedic to stop him spitting.
Medical staff were asked to leave as police performed a 'cell insertion' to get Mr Burrell into the seclusion room, a police misconduct hearing was told.
The panel, sitting at Sutton Coldfield Police Station, accepted there was 'overwhelming evidence' something was covering at least part of Mr Burrell's face when he was at the Oleaster unit and when officers left the seclusion room after successfully moving the patient.
CCTV
It comes after a number of witnesses recalled spotting the item and CCTV footage captured a covering over Mr Burrell's head.
The family said Mr Burrell's death would be 'etched on our hearts forever' and will unite outside Newtown Police Station from 1pm on January 5.
They added: "The video footage clearly shows all police officer’s in close proximity to Kingsley with the covering over his head, so begs the question how could this have been missed?
"During these proceedings we have been constantly reminded on the impact on the police officer’s and their family during the passage of time. However, yet again Kingsley will not be at the table for Christmas dinner.
"This is not the end of the road for our quest for justice."
The panel said it was unable to conclude if Pcs Fannon and Greenfield gave false accounts, claiming their memories may have been impaired due to 'strenuous activity'.
All three officers were acquitted last year of perjury and perverting the course of justice after a three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
An inquest in 2015 ruled prolonged restraint and a failure to provide basic medical attention contributed to Mr Burrell's death.
It also found the covering over Mr Burrell’s head should have been removed.
