Police cleared in restraint death case

The family of a mentally ill black man who died after being
restrained by police say they are “bitterly disappointed” by a
decision to reinstate the officers accused of unlawful killing.

Seven police officers were suspended after the inquest into the
death of Roger Sylvester, who suffered from manic depression,
following his arrest in London in 1999.

A High Court judge overturned the verdict of unlawful killing after
a judicial review last week.

Ben Renwick, the brother of Roger Sylvester, said: “This decision
has yet again caused deep anguishÉ Roger would not be dead if
these police officers had not laid hands on him.”

Deborah Coles, from prisoner’s charity Inquest, said: “This
outrageous decision once again sends the message that police
officers involved in fatal restraint are above the law.”