Post by Mitch on Nov 8, 2004 16:17:39 GMT
RECENT NEWS - The High Court Last week agreed that the Alder Family have the right to challenge the Home Secretary David Blunkett to instigate an INDEPENDENT PUBLIC INQUIRY - which is good news.
Christopher Alder, a Black 37 year old ex-paratrooper and father of two sons died on 1st April 1998 at Queen’s Gardens Police Station, Hull. He died gasping for breath, face down on the custody suite floor, with his hands cuffed behind his back whilst police officers stood around chatting and joking.
THE BBC ROUGH JUSTICE PROGRAMME “DEATH ON CAMERA” SHOWN ON 14TH APRIL 2004 REVEALED THE APPALLING SCALE OF THE COVER-UP.
Video evidence shows Christopher struggling for life for 11 minutes. It shows his trousers and boxer shorts pulled down, his belt missing and mud on his legs. The documentary asks how did this happen to a man who stepped into a police van unaided a few minutes earlier at Hull Royal infirmary, after speaking lucidly to a hospital security man. The documentary asks why there was no crime scene evidence preserved. Police uniforms were taken for cleaning, CS gas canisters were removed unchecked for use. The police van was partly cleaned before examination. Christopher’s clothes were destroyed on the orders of Supt.Holt, the investigating officer. ‘Death on Camera’ asks why police officers are heard on tape making monkey noises at the scene soon after Christopher’s death.
In August 2000, the Inquest Jury verdict was unlawful killing and after much campaigning the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) bowed to pressure and brought five police officers to court on manslaughter charges. The case at Teeside Crown Court in 2002 was presented so badly by the CPS that it was thrown out halfway through. Now following “Death on Camera” enormous pressure is building up for a PUBLIC INQUIRY into all aspects of the case.
A protest by The Justice for Christopher Alder Campaign and supporters from United Family and Friends at the Home Office demanded that David Blunket call a full PUBLIC INQUIRY similar to the Lawrence Inquiry, and 51 MP’s so far have signed a commons motion backing the call.
Janet Alder, Christopher’s sister, has carried the campaign forward by speaking at Union Conferences and other major events telling the true story of Christopher’s death and appealing for support.
The Alder family is suing Humberside Police in a civil action. Liberty is taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights over Christopher’s inhumane treatment.
