The family of a man who died in police custody accused Scotland Yard today of a “cover-up” over his death.
Sean Rigg, a musician and songwriter, was held in a cage in the back of a police van. He collapsed after being pinned down for eight minutes and died at Brixton police station in August 2008.
In one of the most damning inquest verdicts on a loss of life in custody, the Met was found to have made a catalogue of errors that contributed to his death.
Police used unsuitable and unnecessary force and failed to uphold Mr Rigg’s rights. His sister Marcia Rigg-Samuel accused police of “lies and fabrications” and called for them to be charged.
Mr Rigg, 40, had paranoid schizophrenia and a 20-year history of mental illness. He was living in a hostel in Brixton under the care of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Ms Rigg-Samuel, who left her job as a legal PA to focus on her brother’s case, added: “It’s been an absolutely dreadful four years. We’ve fought tooth and nail to get answers. They have lied and tried to stop the truth from coming out.
“Families should not have to be investigators in their loved one’s death. Someone needs to be held accountable. My mother is devastated. She cannot understand how these people are still allowed to work as police officers.”
At the inquest, which finished yesterday, Southwark coroner’s court heard Mr Rigg suffered a psychotic episode on the day of his arrest. He destroyed a gazebo at his hostel and was seen practising martial arts moves before attacking a passer-by. Police responded three hours after the first 999 call and re-strained Mr Rigg on the Weir estate in Brixton.
In the van, he was placed face down on the floor in a V-shape, hands behind his back and legs spread apart. The jury found he was struggling and officers did not spot the deterioration in his health. At the inquest the police denied this.
The court heard his death was caused by cardiac arrest; partial positional asphyxia (the position officers held him in); aschaemia (restriction of blood flow to body tissues); and acute arrhythmia. The jury also found South London and Maudsley had not ensured he had taken his medication for two months, and had not conducted a mental health assessment in the days before his death.
Ms Rigg-Samuel, 48, from Mitcham, said: “He was displaying obvious signs of a relapse. The police and the mental health team had ample opportunity to intervene. Had they done their jobs, he would never have become so psychotic, and he would still be alive today.”
A Met spokesman said: “It is clear ... that the way we handled the calls about Sean’s behaviour let us down.” South London and Maudsley apologised and said: “It is clear that different clinical decisions should have been taken in the days leading up to his tragic death."
