News

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."