Germany: Another suspicious death in police custody
01 March 2005
On 7 January, 21-year old Oury Jalloh from Sierra Leone burned to death in a police cell in Dessau in Saxon-Anhalt, whilst his arms and legs were handcuffed to the bed (see
Statewatch vol 15 no 1). Weeks after the fire, a lighter was produced, police officers claiming to have found it in his cell. The officer in charge was suspected of involvement in a similar incident in 2002, when a detainee died in his care from a fractured skull and internal injury. No charges were brought. But now legal proceedings have been initiated against police officers for grievous bodily harm resulting in death.
On 18 February a homeless person was taken into police custody by Magdeburg police, after his friend raised the alarm after finding him unconscious. An ambulance apparently refused to collect him as he was not visibly ill, but only incapacitated through drink. In such cases, according to a spokesperson of the Interior Ministry, the police would usually take people into custody until the drink wears off. In this case within four hours the man was found dead in his cell. The case has led to heated debates in regional parliament about police methods in Saxon-Anhalt. Regional MP Matthias Gärtner (
Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus) said that anyone found lying collapsed in winter should be taken to hospital, even if the person in question was unable to pay for treatment.
Silence still surrounds the death of Oury Jalloh. The mayor has not made a public statement nor expressed regret for his death. An initiative against right-wing extremism, together with Oury's friends, the local church and the police, have organised a commemoration ceremony.
Süddeutsche Zeitung 22.2.05