Latest news: Roger Sylvestor Justice Campaign
16/06/05
Response of the family of Roger Sylvester to the CPS decision
"Throughout the period of over six years since Roger’s death in custody, we have faced a criminal justice system that has been persistently unable and unwilling to bring its own to account." More
Roger Sylvestor Justice Campaign
For
almost five years, the family of Roger Sylvester have campaigned to find out
the truth of how Roger, a fit and healthy 30 year old black man, died in the
hands of the police on 11 January 1999 in Tottenham. The jury at the St Pancras
Coroner's Court where the inquest into his death finally took place for almost
five weeks reached an unlawful killing verdict. The verdict prompted the CPS
to announce that they are to review their initial decision not to prosecute
any of the eight police officers who restrained Roger and left him in the
prone position - face down with hands cuffed above his head - for almost 20
minutes until he stopped breathing. Inquest, the organisation which has been
supporting the Sylvester family expects the police officers to be prosecuted
for manslaughter.
Deborah Coles, Co-Director of Inquest said: 'The same thing could happen tomorrow
on the streets of London because the Metropolitan Police have failed to learn
the lessons from previous deaths and incorporate good practice from other
agencies. Roger’s tragic death reveals the systemic failure of the state
to learn the lessons from deaths that have occurred across different custodial
settings. Unless there are clear sanctions against police who breach their
own guidance the message will be sent that they can act with impunity.'
