A detective said it was “blindingly obvious” after Sheku Bayoh’s death that “race was the main factor” in the police response, an inquiry has heard.
Father-of-two Mr Bayoh, 31, died after he was restrained on the ground by six police officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3, 2015.Mr Bayoh died in hospital at 9am, according to a statement given to his family.
The inquiry is investigating the circumstances of his death and whether race was a factor. At the inquiry on Friday, retired detective chief superintendent Lesley Boal was asked about a “race hypothesis”.
She was line manager for senior investigating officer Pat Campbell, but said she did not ask him if it was a strategy because she believed it was “blindingly obvious”, the inquiry heard.Ms Boal said the officers involved were treated as witnesses by both Police Scotland and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) rather than suspects.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk