Sheku Bayoh died in May 2015 after being subdued by police officers in Kirkcaldy.
First Minister John Swinney has expressed his willingness to meet with the family of Sheku Bayoh, who tragically died while under police custody.
An investigation was initiated in November 2020 to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the death of the father of two during a police detainment incident in May 2015.
Bayoh passed away after police responded to reports of his erratic behavior and supposed possession of a knife in Kirkcaldy. He was forcefully restrained by six police officers after it was determined he was unarmed. During the altercation, he became unconscious and subsequently died in the hospital.
The Bayoh family has sought a discussion with John Swinney and has expressed their intention to possibly withdraw from the ongoing public inquiry, citing a profound betrayal by the criminal justice system.
John Swinney conveyed to BBC Scotland News his openness to meet the Bayoh family, noting previous interactions with them. He emphasized the importance of the inquiry’s completion and the necessity to learn from its findings.
This statement comes after Lord Bracadale resigned as the chairman of the inquiry following repeated challenges to his impartiality by the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), particularly concerning his meetings with the Bayoh family.
In his resignation letter, Lord Bracadale mentioned that it became apparent that the concerns regarding his leadership had not been mitigated by his decisions and that ongoing criticisms had undermined confidence in his ability to lead the inquiry effectively.
Following Lord Bracadale’s resignation, senior counsel Angela Graham KC, Laura Thomson KC, Jason Beer KC, and junior counsel Rachel Barrett and Sarah Loosemore also stepped down.
The First Minister acknowledged Lord Bracadale’s significant contributions to the inquiry and expressed understanding regarding his decision to resign, commending his dedication to addressing this challenging matter.
The appointment of a new chairman for the inquiry will be conducted by Scottish government ministers, who will then select new counsel to proceed with the investigation.
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Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
