Inquest into police custody death begins
Published 6 Dec 2010 09:30
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A DRUG users death in police custody is being examined in an eight day inquest.
Habib Ullah, of Arbourfield Close, Slough died on July 3, 2008 after being stopped and searched by Thames Valley Police officers for drugs in High Wycombe.
The inquest at Evreham Centre in Iver heard how Mr Ullah and two friends were stopped by an unmarked police car in Sharrow Vale and forcibly searched for drugs, after not finding anything in the car or on his companions, officers asked Mr Ullah to remove his trousers to prove he was not carrying drugs.
Once the search was complete, Mr Ullah returned to his friends when suddenly an officer shouted that he had something in his mouth, and five officers leapt on Mr Ullah and pinned him face down to the floor, grabbing his throat to stop his swallowing the drugs.
Car passenger Emma Forbes said: "There were seven of them trying to get his arms behind his back. I could see it was a bit rough because so many jumped on him.
"He was face down and they had their hands around his throat pressing down with their thumbs. I said 'he's going blue', 'let him go' but they just ignored me."
The inquest continues.
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