It is difficult to believe that it is 5 years exactly since #ShekuBayoh died after being restrained by up to multiple police officers on a Sunday morning in Kirkcaldy after they responded to reports of a black man carrying a knife- long thread follows on behalf of Sheku’s family 
When I met the family & Sheku’s partner Collette within 24 hours I warned them of the long haul they faced, but I never expected that it could take up to 5 years and now possibly 7 to get the truth never mind justice. google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dail…
The family lost all faith in the ability, of PIRC to deliver a robust impartial investigation a very long time ago and then felt nothing but total betrayal by the Lord Advocate’s decision not to prosecute any of the nine officers or @policescotland
Since the moment Sheku died in police custody his family has been failed by those who have a duty to protect the public & uphold the law.
Police sources printed lies,criminalise,racially stereotype & smeared Sheku in his final moments google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.…
Police sources printed lies,criminalise,racially stereotype & smeared Sheku in his final moments google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.…
What some fail to remember is Sheku left behind a devastated family, partner & two young boys who will grow up never knowing their father- silence or giving up was never an option.
Sheku acted out of character & police had every right to act if he broke the law, to defend themselves but any force used had to be reasonable, proportionate & legitimate, but Sheku did not deserve to die irr.org.uk/news/spinning-…
Yes he’d taken drugs & reports were of him walking down the street with a knife, but he was not carrying one when police arrived, nor did did he attack them with a knife as originally claimed by the police, nor did he attack them first stuc.org.uk/campaigns-and-…
In less than one min he is CS sprayed, hit with batons before he actually does anything in response & brought to the ground, restrained by multiple officers
What exactly did they expect Sheku to do when pinned to the ground, handcuffed, ankle cuffed & legs restrained like an animal and with a minimum body weight of 60 stones pushing down on his torso as he took his final breaths. google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.…
Did the Lord Advocate & police really think Sheku’s life was so cheap this family would just walk away. Family believe the Crown Office along with police officers had a multi-million pound budget used to obstruct & patronise a family with no resources inquest.org.uk/sheku-bayoh-ti…
I pay tribute to Collette Bell & Sheku’s family & especially his sister Kadi who have conducted themselves at all times with a quiet dignity, refusing to be provoked or silenced as they fought for the truth. They are grateful for the support of @INQUEST_ORG @DebatINQUEST
Our justice system has been repeatedly exposed for failing to act in the best interests of families of those who die in state custody, failing to hold to account ‘agents of the state’, that must change for ever if there is to be a legacy of Sheku Bayoh.thenational.scot/news/18041730.…
The family appreciate that we are in the midst of a #COVID19 pandemic, but they are entitled to expect a date is announced, to be accepted as particpants & allowed to prepare after the Crown is finally forced to disclose all the information denied to their lawyers for years.
A civil action will still proceed against the Chief Constable @CC_Livingstone but the Public Inquiry will take precedence. The family are grateful to the Scottish Government @HumzaYousaf for their announcement of a Public Inquiry.
This is an important first step in holding power to account and establishing the truth, because without truth there can be no justice. But it should be remembered this is the barest minimum of what they had hoped for. bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/10/07/dea…
The Sheku Bayoh case is a fundamental test of the accountability of those who claim to be our guardians of law and order. There must never be a hiding place for those officers who break the law & his family could not let today pass without remembering #ShekuBayoh
