A vulnerable and “terrified” black man who was suffering a medical emergency and crying out for help died after police dragged him across a bathroom floor by his collar and handcuffed him, an inquest jury has heard.
Godrick Osei, 35, who was said to be experiencing acute behavioural disturbance (ABD), became “floppy” and suffered a fatal collapse within two minutes of being restrained.
Relatives of Osei have claimed at the inquest in Truro that he was treated “inhumanely” because of his race, which was denied by the Devon and Cornwall police officers involved in the incident.
Osei’s family described him as a deeply loved son, brother, father and uncle, a “gentle giant” who had struggled with his mental health after the death of his father.
The inquest heard Osei, a student, experienced ABD in the early hours of Sunday 3 July 2022 after taking cannabis and cocaine, and drinking alcohol.
He thought he was being chased by someone and called the police asking for help before breaking into a care home in Truro and entering a narrow bathroom.
Care home staff called 999 and when police officers arrived, Osei was locked inside the bathroom screaming and calling for help.
Officers forced their way in and found Osei on the floor. One of the officers, PC Peter Boxall, told the inquest on Wednesday that he dragged Osei by his collar as this was the safest way to get him out of the narrow space. He argued that handcuffing him was justified for the safety of the officers and members of the public, including Osei.
Una Morris, the family’s lawyer, suggested to Boxall that his attitude changed when he saw Osei was black. He told a colleague to “red dot” him – aim a Taser at him, though the electrical weapon was not discharged – and said: “Fucking hell, look at the sight of his fingers,” the inquest heard.
The lawyer asked Boxall if dragging a black man by the collar across the floor and swearing at him was “inhumane”. Boxall replied that the man’s race made no difference. “We needed to gain control,” he said. However, he apologised for his language.
Morris put it to Boxall that Osei was “terrified”. The officer replied there was a “certain amount of shock on his face”. Osei’s family also claimed Boxall kicked Osei while he was on the floor, but he denied this.
Within two minutes of being restrained, Osei collapsed and died. The inquest heard Osei had ABD, which presents with symptoms such as extreme agitation, paranoia, rapid breathing and sweating, and can be exacerbated by restraint. Boxall said he had been trained in ABD but had not recognised it in Osei.
Earlier this week, the inquest heard there was an unfounded suspicion that Osei may have been a black man suspected of pushing a man from a bridge in Truro into the river the night before.
Morris told the inquest the colour of the two men’s skin was their only similarity. She suggested that this was an indicator of “racial bias”.
Rosie Antonio, another of the five officers who attended, said she had been worried that Osei could have a knife because care home staff reported he had blood on him and she heard the sound of a metal object hitting a hard surface.
Antonio, who has since left the police, said she had had a “small amount” of training on ABD but did not think when she arrived at the scene that this was what Osei was experiencing. A third officer, PC Katie Bagguley, said it did not cross her mind that it could have been ABD.
The inquest continues.
