On January 11 1999, Roger Sylvester, a 30 year old black man, was restrained outside his home by eight police officers, from Tottenham Police Station. He sustained numerous injuries and was later in a coma on a life support system. Seven days later, he was dead.
Ever since Roger's family and friends have been campaigning for justice for Roger and working with other families who have suffered as a result of similar deaths in custody and at the hands of the British police.
Eventually an inquest in October 2003 returned a verdict of unlawful killing in Roger's case. A judicial review was launched, as this verdict threatened to hold to account a state which has been responsible for the deaths of too many people - disproportionate numbers of whom are black.
Mr Justice Collins in the High Court came to their rescue, and the eight police officers involved were immediately reinstated.
This is one more of the glorious legacies of the late unlamented Home Secretary, David Blunkett.
Bernard Renwick for the Sylvester family writes:
"On Friday 26 November 2004 the unlawtul killing verdict returned unanimously by the jury at the inquest into Roger's death was quashed by the High Court.
Mr Justice Collins accepted that there was evidence which allowed the jury to conclude that Roger was unlawfully killed, but nevertheless he chose to quash their verdict.
In his opinion, justice required the verdict to be quashed because of errors made by the Coroner in his summing up and by the jury on the inquisition form. In other words, the verdict was quashed on a technicality.
Throughout the hearing, Mr Justice Collins made it clear that he found the very idea of an 'unlawful killing' being available to an inquest jury in the context of a death in custody objectionable, just as he had difficulties with the very idea of a family in our position having the temerity to ask for justice in relation to such a death.
So, having reminded himself that whether he would have returned the verdict on the evidence was irrelevant, he goes on to impose his own personal view that "a verdict of unlawful killing was not and would not be a just verdict. tial", he has no qualms about pronouncing his personal views on the prospects of any criminal prosecution relating to Roger's death -a pronouncement that is not only outside his remit but also a deliberate attempt to influence and pre-empt a decision that has yet to be made by the Crown
Prosecution Service. the way of the rule of law.
We continue to stand by our camwho have died in custody.
Recent events served only to strating what is wrong with the system: the way in which police officers responsible for such deaths in custody are allowed to avoid scrutiny and accountaWhile insisting that justice is imparMr Justice Collins of all people should know better. We agree entirely that justice is his right to life that was and must be seen to be impartial, infringed. without fear or favour to anyone. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case here, when a High Court judge allows his personal prejudices to stand in paign for justice for Roger and all others strengthen our determination by demoncover up their actions. bility. It is a matter of shame when those responsible for such a death are pro- mined. tected instead of being called to account, while the family of the victim is
condemned for doing no more than insisting upon accountability. Ours is a just cause. society. Throughout the ages there have been those who use their privilege of authority to cover up unfair and unjust infringements on the rights of others. In Roger's case, it was
Try as they may, the officers responsible for Roger's death cannot quash the truth. Even Mr Justice Collins was compelled to accept that the evidence was there to allow the inquest jury to conclude that the officers had lied on oath; that in fact they had deliberately held Roger down in a position which they knew to be unlawful and dangerous; and that they then gave a false account to
That evidence has only ever been stances. heard in full before the inquest jury, the conclusions reached by that jury retain a legitimacy that can never be underMany everyday privileges and rights that we enjoy today have been won through ordinary people struggling against those in authority to affect social change and create a more equal and just
These achievements have been won through our blood, sweat and tears. They have not been gifted to us by the judiciary or, for that matter, any
Commissioner of Police whose interests all too often lay in maintaining the status quo. Families like ours are part of a struggle to change how the criminal justice system responds to deaths in custody. Our fight for justice is not simply for Roger; it is for all those who have died and continue to die in custody.
We seek a criminal justice system where the public can be confident that those responsible for such deaths are called to account, and that value judgments are not made about our loved ones when they die in these circumOur quest for justice for Roger will continue."
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Monday 17th January 7pm An Evening With Ken Loach organised by Tower Hamlets Respect Mile End Genesis Cinema, Whitechapel Road, London E1 Thursday 20th January Stockport Respect supporters' meeting 7.30pm, Arden Arms, 22 Millgate Thursday 27th January After Arafal... What Future for Palestine? Respect meeting Speakers: John Rose and Victoria Brittain 7.30pm, Whittington Community Centre, Yerbury Road, off Holloway Road, Islington, London January 27, 7.30pm Tony Benn, Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition), Salma Yacoob (Birmingham Stop the War Coalition) and Rose Gentle (Military Families Against the War). Carr's Lane Church Centre, Carr's Lane, Birmingham City Centre, B4 (opposite Moor St. Station) Saturday 29th January Respect - The Unity Coalition invites you to celebrate Burns Night, 7-11pm, Cittee of York Public House, 22 High Holborn, London WC1 29 January School Students Against the War One Day Conference: Make them bring the troops home 9am-5pm Speakers include Maxine Gentle, George Galloway and Andrew Murray. Friends Meeting House, Euston Road (nearest tube: Euston BR). February 7 Iraq bring the troops home rally -Tony Benn, John Rees (Stop the War Coalition), Caroline Lucas MEP (Green Party). The Council House, Bristol City Centre. February 14, 7.30pm паноліТа London bring the troops home rally - Tony Benn, George Galloway MP, John Rees (Stop the War Coalition). Friends Meeting House, Euston Road (nearest tube: Euston BR). Saturday 19th February 2pm Bristol Respect Public Meeting with George Galloway, Bannerman Road School, Bannerman Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 Saturday 19th March End the occupation of Iraq demonstrations Central London and internationally Saturday 26 April, Manchester Unite against racism Called by UNISON and the TUC Assemble 10.30am at Castlefield Basin, Liverpool Rd, rally at 12 noon in Albert Square. Concert from 7pm, The Apollo. Bands include RDB, Chumbawamba, Un-Cut, Alabama 3.
Socialist film director Ken Loach will be appearing at the an evening organised by Tower Hamlets Respect. EDITORS:, Terry Conway, John Lister, Liam MacUaid. DESIGN: John Lister Bill Walton, Roger Welch. Printed by Web Press International, London E15. Send us a donation every month - through ni aireroenso suicem Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel Road on January 17 as part of EDITORIAL BOARD : Mandy Baker, Julia Brandreth, Paul Brown, John Bulaitis, Andrew Burgin, Kathy Lowe, Pauline Roland, Piers Moystn, Karen O Toole,. SPONSORED BY: International Socialist Group, Socialist Solidarity Network and individuals including Patrick Baker, Andrew Burgin, Brenda and Brian Bushell, Mathew Caygill, Duncan Chapple, Julian Coppens, Frances Curran, Norma Dowd, Andy Gibbons, Jamie Gough, Catriona Grant, Marcus Greville, Patrick Hall, Rick Hatcher, Wayne Holmes, Nick Lidgett, Frank McMahon, Lesley Mahmood, Alan McCoombes, Martin Milne, Piers Moystn, Liz Peretz, Sue Phillips, Surykant Raithatha, Norman Traub, Rick Simon, Colin Smith, Murray Smith, Sarah Taversham, Doug Thorpe, Tony Traub, Tessa van Gelderen, Published by SOCIALIST RESISTANCE, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU. The next issue of Socialist Resistance will be produced in the final week of January and published in the first week of February 2005. The deadline for feature articles and letters which are welcome on any topic, up to 400 words) will be Monday January 24. Diary items reviews and local news are also welcome.