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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Police cell footage of pepper-sprayed man shown to inquest jury | Police cell footage of pepper-sprayed man shown to inquest jury |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An inquest jury has been shown footage of the dying moments of a 25-year-old man lying face down on a cell floor after he had been pepper-sprayed by police. | An inquest jury has been shown footage of the dying moments of a 25-year-old man lying face down on a cell floor after he had been pepper-sprayed by police. |
| Jacob Michael died on August 2011 after he was arrested at his home in Widnes, Cheshire. During his arrest he was sprayed with pepper spray and struck with police batons by two officers. Forty-five minutes later he was found collapsed and unresponsive, and he was later pronounced dead in hospital. | Jacob Michael died on August 2011 after he was arrested at his home in Widnes, Cheshire. During his arrest he was sprayed with pepper spray and struck with police batons by two officers. Forty-five minutes later he was found collapsed and unresponsive, and he was later pronounced dead in hospital. |
| Michael had called police complaining of having been threatened with a gun. When the police arrived he refused them access to his room and threatened them with a hammer, the jury heard. | Michael had called police complaining of having been threatened with a gun. When the police arrived he refused them access to his room and threatened them with a hammer, the jury heard. |
| Warrington coroners court, sitting at a hotel in Daresbury, Cheshire, was shown footage from a police van in which Michael was taken to a station. He repeatedly says "I'm sorry", and his breathing is laboured as he is told to stand up while handcuffed and in leg restraints. | Warrington coroners court, sitting at a hotel in Daresbury, Cheshire, was shown footage from a police van in which Michael was taken to a station. He repeatedly says "I'm sorry", and his breathing is laboured as he is told to stand up while handcuffed and in leg restraints. |
| As he arrives at a custody suite in Runcorn, one officer asks Michael if he will behave himself. One says: "Stand up, mate. We're not carrying you." Michael groans in response. He was then carried to a cell and placed face down on the floor. | As he arrives at a custody suite in Runcorn, one officer asks Michael if he will behave himself. One says: "Stand up, mate. We're not carrying you." Michael groans in response. He was then carried to a cell and placed face down on the floor. |
| The jurors watched footage of an officer in uniform placing a foot on the back of his left leg. Another camera records a colleague outside the cell swinging his arm as if demonstrating a baton strike. Michael can be seen moving his head, and goes still suddenly. A nurse is called and attempts are made to resuscitate him. | The jurors watched footage of an officer in uniform placing a foot on the back of his left leg. Another camera records a colleague outside the cell swinging his arm as if demonstrating a baton strike. Michael can be seen moving his head, and goes still suddenly. A nurse is called and attempts are made to resuscitate him. |
| Witnesses told the Cheshire coroner, Nicholas Rheinberg, that Michael had taken cocaine and had been drinking on the weekend before his death. On 22 August 2011, the day Michael died, he had arrived home just before 5pm. His father, who has since died, was at home. The property is protected by CCTV. | Witnesses told the Cheshire coroner, Nicholas Rheinberg, that Michael had taken cocaine and had been drinking on the weekend before his death. On 22 August 2011, the day Michael died, he had arrived home just before 5pm. His father, who has since died, was at home. The property is protected by CCTV. |
| The coroner said Michael told his father someone had pulled a gun on him. Michael dialled 999 and gave his address but hung up. Two officers, Orme and Higgins, were sent to the house. Michael's mother, Christine, returned home, and her son didn't answer when she knocked on his bedroom door. | The coroner said Michael told his father someone had pulled a gun on him. Michael dialled 999 and gave his address but hung up. Two officers, Orme and Higgins, were sent to the house. Michael's mother, Christine, returned home, and her son didn't answer when she knocked on his bedroom door. |
| Rheinberg said Michael telephoned police "to ask whether the individuals outside his door were indeed police officers". The door opened slightly and there was a struggle, before the officers entered the bedroom. They said Michael threatened them with a hammer, the jury heard, and he was pepper-sprayed. Michael ran out of the house pursued by the officers. "There was a chase. Police batons were used and Jake was arrested," the coroner said. | Rheinberg said Michael telephoned police "to ask whether the individuals outside his door were indeed police officers". The door opened slightly and there was a struggle, before the officers entered the bedroom. They said Michael threatened them with a hammer, the jury heard, and he was pepper-sprayed. Michael ran out of the house pursued by the officers. "There was a chase. Police batons were used and Jake was arrested," the coroner said. |
| Rheinberg referred to European human rights legislation and the vulnerability of people in custody. Authorities had a duty to protect them, he said. It was up to the jury to decide whether there were deficiencies in Michael's care when he was arrested and whether such deficiencies "contributed to his death and failings in a general sense". | Rheinberg referred to European human rights legislation and the vulnerability of people in custody. Authorities had a duty to protect them, he said. It was up to the jury to decide whether there were deficiencies in Michael's care when he was arrested and whether such deficiencies "contributed to his death and failings in a general sense". |
| On Monday afternoon the jurors were taken on a site visit. The hearing continues on Tuesday. | On Monday afternoon the jurors were taken on a site visit. The hearing continues on Tuesday. |
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