Last Saturday at the 9th Annual Rally against Custody Deaths, some familiar faces were missing, but like every year there were also plenty new ones, having lost a loved one during the past year. Amongst them the family and friends of Jason McPherson, who had died on the 18th January 2007 in Police Custody in Notting Hill. Unsurprisingly, only a local paper catering to the black community reported the incident at all, and the 'I'PCC's 'investigation' didn't turn up with anything yet.
Flyer by the family (Photo: JudyGr)
[ Pic nicked & trimmed from 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/judygr/1730830980/ ]
CASE SUMMARY
Jason Oscar McPherson, 25, of Bentworth Road, East Acton, died in mysterious circumstances on 18th January 2007 at Notting Hill Police Station after being arrested by officers.
McPherson was travelling in a car with two other men when the vehicle was stopped by Metropolitan Police officers in St Annes Road, Ladbroke Grove.
They were detained and taken to Notting Hill Police Station where a search was to be conducted. While there, police said Mr McPherson needed medical attention, but the reasons for this are not yet known. London Ambulance Service was called and he was taken to St Mary's Hospital, where he died at 11.32pm.
From the Case File @ 4wardever, 8th April 2007:
http://www.4wardever.org/yjmcpherson/4525032929
FAMILY ALREADY INJURED BY POLICE 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE KILLING
In an interview in 'The Voice', Jason's Mother Sandra Richardson explained they had both been abused and injured by the police not 3 weeks before Jason's death, when she returned home from hospital to find police at her premises:
“Jason asked them if they had a warrant. They did not show him one. I had my arm in a sling and Jason was getting my suitcase from the car. I told them I needed to sit down and they said I should sit on the pavement. I was eventually gassed and both Jason and I were arrested for obstructing the police. I was taken to the station. The sergeant asked them why I was brought into the station in my condition and ordered that I be seen by a doctor immediately. I will now have to undergo another operation because of the damage done to my eyes. Only last week Jason said to me: “mum, don’t have another operation. You will be fine. You’ve had some near misses and I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you”. Now I’ve lost him and I want some answers.”
'WHO KILLED MY SON?', by Andrew Clunis, 'The Voice' #1253, 24th January 2007:
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10692
Answers she's very unlikely to get, let alone finding justice. But in contrary endless procrastination, lies and smearing tactics by police etc. Ask any bereaved family.
HOW THE AUTHORITIES HUMILIATE THE BEREAVED
When Jason died on the 18th of January, his mother Sandra Richardson sat at home, nervous because Jason who'd called he'd be at home soon with food for dinner never showed up. Several times she'd called Jasons mobile in vain. Eventually she got through, though Jason didn't answer:
“I heard the wind in the phone and Jason screaming. He was saying: ‘Get off me, get off me – I can’t breathe.’ I then heard another voice shouting ‘spit it out, spit it out!’ Another voice said ‘make him sit up’. The same voice then said, ‘make him stand up, he’s dying!’ That was when my world collapsed.”
'WHO KILLED MY SON?', by Andrew Clunis, 'The Voice' #1253, 24th January 2007:
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10692
Worse, like virtually always, learning to know their loved one had died at the hands of the police was only the beginning:
“I said I wanted to see his body and they refused. I begged them, my dad begged them. My dad told them that if they didn’t allow us he would find a way to go and see Jason. They called in armed officers and said ‘move these ruffians out of the way’.”
'WHO KILLED MY SON?', by Andrew Clunis, 'The Voice' #1253, 24th January 2007:
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10692
Sandra Richardson had learned from witnersses that her son had been arrested, so she went to the local hospital in search for Jason, just to learn that her son was dead. 'When The Voice spoke with Sandra on Friday morning, she had still not received any official communication from the police regarding the arrest and death of her son. “If I had not gone to the hospital I would not have known,” she sobbed.'
SLOW INVESTIGATION, NO MEDIA COVERAGE
According to the 4wardever Case File, the 'I'PCC assured to they'd be 'formally quizzing officers over what happened. "We will be interviewing officers and witnesses," she said. "Because it is so early in the investigation we can't predict how long it will take." The spokesman said the family had formally identified the body.'
http://www.4wardever.org/yjmcpherson/4525032929
However, a formal appeal for witnesses was only released on 7th of February -- a full 3 weeks after Jason McPherson had died, and up to the present, that was it.
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr070207_mcphersonwitnessappeal.htm
Also, besides 'The Voice', up to now no media bothered to report this case of Death in Police Custody.
UK: 38 KILLED BY POLICE IN 2007 SO FAR
At the moment, Inquest lists a (on the page not added) total of 38 people killed by the police in the UK in 2007.
http://inquest.gn.apc.org/data_deaths_in_police_custody.html
According to an report published earlier 2007, the 'I'PCC lists nearly 600 deaths in state custody EVERY YEAR, 'many' of which 'could and should have been prevented'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7005556.stm#map
'NON-INVESTIGATION' SIMILAR TO THE CASE OF AZELLE RODNEY
Already the hesitant manner of the 'I'PCC to even propertly start an investigation reminds fatally of the case of Azelle Rodney, who was shot in the head six times on 30th April 2005, also when riding in a vehicle that was stopped by the police. Once again the police started a smear campaign, and while the investigation against the officers was procrastinated, the survivors in the same car were prosecuted quickly and punished severly. On the other hand, all of the policemen in the end got off without even facing a court. More info on Azelle Rodney Case:
Azelle Rodney murdered by Police (his murderer is still on a paid holiday):
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/09/324678.html
The 4wardever Case File:
http://www.4wardever.org/yarodney/4525057710
'Police shooting survivors jailed', BBC 25 January 2006:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4647830.stm
Crown Prosecution Service lets all cops go off scot-free, 4th July 2006:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/archive/2006/142_06.html
Ironically, on 7th December 2006, after remaining silent about the case for 1 1/2 years, 'The Guardian' asks 'So why has nobody heard of Azelle Rodney?':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,1965935,00.html
SOME LINKS ANNUAL CUSTODY DEATH PROTEST (on indy.uk)
2007:
Death In Custody -- Campaigns, Facts and Figures:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384479.html
Call for the Rally:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384167.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384179.html
Reports so far:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384179.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384567.html
2006:
Death in Custody Feature:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/357852.html
Rally Video:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/357839.html
Rally Reports:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354590.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354526.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354551.html
2005:
Rally Report:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/326759.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/judygr/1730830980/ ] CASE SUMMARY
Jason Oscar McPherson, 25, of Bentworth Road, East Acton, died in mysterious circumstances on 18th January 2007 at Notting Hill Police Station after being arrested by officers.
McPherson was travelling in a car with two other men when the vehicle was stopped by Metropolitan Police officers in St Annes Road, Ladbroke Grove.
They were detained and taken to Notting Hill Police Station where a search was to be conducted. While there, police said Mr McPherson needed medical attention, but the reasons for this are not yet known. London Ambulance Service was called and he was taken to St Mary's Hospital, where he died at 11.32pm.
From the Case File @ 4wardever, 8th April 2007:
http://www.4wardever.org/yjmcpherson/4525032929 FAMILY ALREADY INJURED BY POLICE 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE KILLING
In an interview in 'The Voice', Jason's Mother Sandra Richardson explained they had both been abused and injured by the police not 3 weeks before Jason's death, when she returned home from hospital to find police at her premises:
“Jason asked them if they had a warrant. They did not show him one. I had my arm in a sling and Jason was getting my suitcase from the car. I told them I needed to sit down and they said I should sit on the pavement. I was eventually gassed and both Jason and I were arrested for obstructing the police. I was taken to the station. The sergeant asked them why I was brought into the station in my condition and ordered that I be seen by a doctor immediately. I will now have to undergo another operation because of the damage done to my eyes. Only last week Jason said to me: “mum, don’t have another operation. You will be fine. You’ve had some near misses and I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you”. Now I’ve lost him and I want some answers.”
'WHO KILLED MY SON?', by Andrew Clunis, 'The Voice' #1253, 24th January 2007:
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10692 Answers she's very unlikely to get, let alone finding justice. But in contrary endless procrastination, lies and smearing tactics by police etc. Ask any bereaved family.
HOW THE AUTHORITIES HUMILIATE THE BEREAVED
When Jason died on the 18th of January, his mother Sandra Richardson sat at home, nervous because Jason who'd called he'd be at home soon with food for dinner never showed up. Several times she'd called Jasons mobile in vain. Eventually she got through, though Jason didn't answer:
“I heard the wind in the phone and Jason screaming. He was saying: ‘Get off me, get off me – I can’t breathe.’ I then heard another voice shouting ‘spit it out, spit it out!’ Another voice said ‘make him sit up’. The same voice then said, ‘make him stand up, he’s dying!’ That was when my world collapsed.”
'WHO KILLED MY SON?', by Andrew Clunis, 'The Voice' #1253, 24th January 2007:
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10692 Worse, like virtually always, learning to know their loved one had died at the hands of the police was only the beginning:
“I said I wanted to see his body and they refused. I begged them, my dad begged them. My dad told them that if they didn’t allow us he would find a way to go and see Jason. They called in armed officers and said ‘move these ruffians out of the way’.”
'WHO KILLED MY SON?', by Andrew Clunis, 'The Voice' #1253, 24th January 2007:
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=10692 Sandra Richardson had learned from witnersses that her son had been arrested, so she went to the local hospital in search for Jason, just to learn that her son was dead. 'When The Voice spoke with Sandra on Friday morning, she had still not received any official communication from the police regarding the arrest and death of her son. “If I had not gone to the hospital I would not have known,” she sobbed.'
SLOW INVESTIGATION, NO MEDIA COVERAGE
According to the 4wardever Case File, the 'I'PCC assured to they'd be 'formally quizzing officers over what happened. "We will be interviewing officers and witnesses," she said. "Because it is so early in the investigation we can't predict how long it will take." The spokesman said the family had formally identified the body.'
http://www.4wardever.org/yjmcpherson/4525032929 However, a formal appeal for witnesses was only released on 7th of February -- a full 3 weeks after Jason McPherson had died, and up to the present, that was it.
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr070207_mcphersonwitnessappeal.htm Also, besides 'The Voice', up to now no media bothered to report this case of Death in Police Custody.
UK: 38 KILLED BY POLICE IN 2007 SO FAR
At the moment, Inquest lists a (on the page not added) total of 38 people killed by the police in the UK in 2007.
http://inquest.gn.apc.org/data_deaths_in_police_custody.html According to an report published earlier 2007, the 'I'PCC lists nearly 600 deaths in state custody EVERY YEAR, 'many' of which 'could and should have been prevented'.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7005556.stm#map 'NON-INVESTIGATION' SIMILAR TO THE CASE OF AZELLE RODNEY
Already the hesitant manner of the 'I'PCC to even propertly start an investigation reminds fatally of the case of Azelle Rodney, who was shot in the head six times on 30th April 2005, also when riding in a vehicle that was stopped by the police. Once again the police started a smear campaign, and while the investigation against the officers was procrastinated, the survivors in the same car were prosecuted quickly and punished severly. On the other hand, all of the policemen in the end got off without even facing a court. More info on Azelle Rodney Case:
Azelle Rodney murdered by Police (his murderer is still on a paid holiday):
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/09/324678.html The 4wardever Case File:
http://www.4wardever.org/yarodney/4525057710 'Police shooting survivors jailed', BBC 25 January 2006:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4647830.stm Crown Prosecution Service lets all cops go off scot-free, 4th July 2006:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/news/pressreleases/archive/2006/142_06.html Ironically, on 7th December 2006, after remaining silent about the case for 1 1/2 years, 'The Guardian' asks 'So why has nobody heard of Azelle Rodney?':
http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,1965935,00.html SOME LINKS ANNUAL CUSTODY DEATH PROTEST (on indy.uk)
2007:
Death In Custody -- Campaigns, Facts and Figures:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384479.html Call for the Rally:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384167.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384179.html Reports so far:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384179.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384567.html 2006:
Death in Custody Feature:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/357852.html Rally Video:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/357839.html Rally Reports:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354590.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354526.html http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/10/354551.html 2005:
Rally Report:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/326759.html
