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UK: Asylum-seeker unlawfully killed

01 September 1993

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The jury on the inquest into the death of Omasase Lumumba, who died in Pentonville prison under restraint by six prison officers, returned a verdict of unlawful killing when the inquest resumed on 27 July. The inquest was adjourned in April for counsel for the family to challenge the coroner's direction to the jury that they could not consider an unlawful killing verdict. The High Court decided in May that the coroner's direction was unlawful. The Home Office then obtained another adjournment when the inquest reconvened, claiming that the papers needed to be seen by the DPP. It was suspected that this was a ploy to cause too long a delay for the inquest to be resumed with the same jury, who had clearly been moved by the evidence they had heard, particularly that given by Lumumba's brother. In the event, however, there was no application to discharge the jury, who left the coroner and the Home Office in no doubt as to their views on Lumumba's death.

Guardian 28.7.93; Independent 21.9.93.

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