This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/north_east/8022920.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Concern' over drunk teen's death | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Two police officers have defended their decision to let a drunken teenager walk home barefoot shortly before he died of hypothermia on a cold January night. | Two police officers have defended their decision to let a drunken teenager walk home barefoot shortly before he died of hypothermia on a cold January night. |
| The officers told an inquest they found Lee Sellers, 17, on the A550 in Flintshire coherent and calm and were "happy" with their actions in 2004. | The officers told an inquest they found Lee Sellers, 17, on the A550 in Flintshire coherent and calm and were "happy" with their actions in 2004. |
| But the coroner said it was "highly regrettable" they did not realise the possible risk to Lee from the amount he had drunk and the cold weather. | But the coroner said it was "highly regrettable" they did not realise the possible risk to Lee from the amount he had drunk and the cold weather. |
| Lee's body was found two weeks later. | Lee's body was found two weeks later. |
| The police, who gave evidence in private and were known as officers A and B, were called to reports from motorists that a man was trying to flag down traffic. | The police, who gave evidence in private and were known as officers A and B, were called to reports from motorists that a man was trying to flag down traffic. |
| The coroner John Gittins said: "With hindsight comes perfect vision and I feel it's of some concern, according to the evidence of officers A and B, there was no formal training available to them with regard to force policy relating to transportation in police vehicles." | The coroner John Gittins said: "With hindsight comes perfect vision and I feel it's of some concern, according to the evidence of officers A and B, there was no formal training available to them with regard to force policy relating to transportation in police vehicles." |
| He added: "It is at the very least highly regrettable that these officers did not realise the high level of intoxication of Lee Sellers and the possible risk posed to to individual by the combination of cold weather and acute intoxication." | |
| Mr Gittins offered his sympathy to the family and said their decorum during the inquest had been "a credit to the memory of your son." | Mr Gittins offered his sympathy to the family and said their decorum during the inquest had been "a credit to the memory of your son." |
| Officers A and B were called to the Penyffordd area and found Lee Sellers standing near a roundabout. | Officers A and B were called to the Penyffordd area and found Lee Sellers standing near a roundabout. |
| The second day of the inquest in Wrexham heard they found him calm, coherent and in a fit state to make his way home. | The second day of the inquest in Wrexham heard they found him calm, coherent and in a fit state to make his way home. |
| Officer A, the driver, said Lee explained he had been to a party in Hawarden and had "too much to drink". | Officer A, the driver, said Lee explained he had been to a party in Hawarden and had "too much to drink". |
| At the end of the day he was looking at us as though we were the taxi to take him home Officer B | At the end of the day he was looking at us as though we were the taxi to take him home Officer B |
| Lee told the policemen he had been unable to get a lift and decided to take a short cut home, and asked the officers for a lift. | Lee told the policemen he had been unable to get a lift and decided to take a short cut home, and asked the officers for a lift. |
| However, giving evidence via a blank television screen, Officer A said there had to be a "policing purpose" to give someone a lift. He said it would be against force policy, the person would not be insured, and it would leave the officers open to false allegations. | However, giving evidence via a blank television screen, Officer A said there had to be a "policing purpose" to give someone a lift. He said it would be against force policy, the person would not be insured, and it would leave the officers open to false allegations. |
| Coroner John Gittins asked: "If the situation occurred today with the same set of circumstances, would you have made the same decision today?" | Coroner John Gittins asked: "If the situation occurred today with the same set of circumstances, would you have made the same decision today?" |
| Officer A replied: "Yes, I would." | Officer A replied: "Yes, I would." |
| Asked if the situation might have been different if the person was a 17-year-old female, covered in mud, barefoot and smelling of alcohol, the officer acknowledged it "may have been slightly different". | Asked if the situation might have been different if the person was a 17-year-old female, covered in mud, barefoot and smelling of alcohol, the officer acknowledged it "may have been slightly different". |
| The officer also admitted there had been occasions where he had given lifts to people he considered to be in danger - both before and after Lee's death in 2004. | The officer also admitted there had been occasions where he had given lifts to people he considered to be in danger - both before and after Lee's death in 2004. |
| The inquest previously heard how Lee was spotted by drivers wearing just a t-shirt on a night when temperatures dropped to about 1C. | The inquest previously heard how Lee was spotted by drivers wearing just a t-shirt on a night when temperatures dropped to about 1C. |
| But, also giving evidence in private, Officer B said Lee was "dressed suitably for the time of year", and "it wasn't a particularly cold evening". | But, also giving evidence in private, Officer B said Lee was "dressed suitably for the time of year", and "it wasn't a particularly cold evening". |
| 'Happy with our actions' | 'Happy with our actions' |
| The coroner asked whether the reason Lee was not given a lift home was because he was covered in mud, Officer B said it "wouldn't have mattered" and that the car could have been cleaned later. | The coroner asked whether the reason Lee was not given a lift home was because he was covered in mud, Officer B said it "wouldn't have mattered" and that the car could have been cleaned later. |
| The officer said Lee gave a "plausible explanation" that he had walked across a muddy field and lost his trainers. | The officer said Lee gave a "plausible explanation" that he had walked across a muddy field and lost his trainers. |
| During questioning about why they refused Lee a lift, Officer B said: "It was just a jovial conversation. There was a bit of banter between the three of us. At the end of the day he was looking at us as though we were the taxi to take him home." | During questioning about why they refused Lee a lift, Officer B said: "It was just a jovial conversation. There was a bit of banter between the three of us. At the end of the day he was looking at us as though we were the taxi to take him home." |
| He added that Mr Sellers had a mobile phone with him and they suggested he call a taxi, adding: "We were quite happy to leave him where he was. We weren't overly concerned for him really." | He added that Mr Sellers had a mobile phone with him and they suggested he call a taxi, adding: "We were quite happy to leave him where he was. We weren't overly concerned for him really." |
| After a series of questions by the coroner, Officer B said: "As far as I'm concerned, and my colleague will back me up - and I'm sure he has already - we were both happy with our actions on the evening." | After a series of questions by the coroner, Officer B said: "As far as I'm concerned, and my colleague will back me up - and I'm sure he has already - we were both happy with our actions on the evening." |
| Coroner Mr Gittins told the officer his answer sounded "defensive", adding that it was not his role to ascertain blame, but to establish all the facts. | Coroner Mr Gittins told the officer his answer sounded "defensive", adding that it was not his role to ascertain blame, but to establish all the facts. |
| There was a search for Lee Sellers until his body was found in a coal bunker | There was a search for Lee Sellers until his body was found in a coal bunker |
| The court also heard details of a letter to the coroner from crown prosecutor Ian Frost, explaining that there had been insufficient evidence for a criminal prosecution against the officers. | The court also heard details of a letter to the coroner from crown prosecutor Ian Frost, explaining that there had been insufficient evidence for a criminal prosecution against the officers. |
| Potential charges of manslaughter by gross negligence or wilful misconduct in public office were considered, but decided against. | Potential charges of manslaughter by gross negligence or wilful misconduct in public office were considered, but decided against. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, the inquest heard from a work colleague, Andrew Taylor, who received up to 15 phone calls late at night from Lee, explaining that he was lost and had no shoes or socks. | Earlier on Tuesday, the inquest heard from a work colleague, Andrew Taylor, who received up to 15 phone calls late at night from Lee, explaining that he was lost and had no shoes or socks. |
| Mr Taylor said his friend initially sounded "panicky" and "distressed" and wanted him to pick him up, but he had been drinking and was unable to drive. | Mr Taylor said his friend initially sounded "panicky" and "distressed" and wanted him to pick him up, but he had been drinking and was unable to drive. |
| Mr Taylor suggested Lee try another friend for a lift, but Lee decided against it. | Mr Taylor suggested Lee try another friend for a lift, but Lee decided against it. |
| However, Mr Taylor said Lee later calmed down, sounded coherent, they had discussed him calling a taxi. | However, Mr Taylor said Lee later calmed down, sounded coherent, they had discussed him calling a taxi. |
| After the inquest North Wales Police issue a statement saying: "Police officers are often required to make very difficult decisions and sometimes the outcome is not what they would intend or wish. | |
| "North Wales Police again extends its sympathies to the family of Lee Sellers and recognises this has been an extraordinarily difficult period for them" |