03 September 2020
Andre Moura was "found unresponsive in the back of a police van" after being arrested in July 2018 and declared dead at a hospital later that night. Five officers from Greater Manchester Police were investigated by the Independent Office of Police Conduct, which recommended that the Crowd Prosecution Service press various charges - but the CPS has decided otherwise.
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According to the Manchester Evening News:
"Greater Manchester Police said they were called to reports of a 'domestic disturbance' at around 11.35pm on Seventh Avenue in Limeside, Oldham.
Officers used CS spray to restrain Mr Moura outside his house before he was taken to Ashton-under-Lyne police station, they said, but that ‘on arrival’ Mr Moura was ‘found unresponsive in the back of the police van’.
He was then taken to Tameside hospital, where he was declared dead at 1.30am.
(...)
A neighbour Barry Lee Martin, witnessed much of the incident and captured it on a video which he shared with the Manchester Evening News.
He claimed to have seen a police officer knee Mr Moura in the head 'several times' as he was being restrained.
Mr Martin's video was seized as part of the probe and IOPC investigators also looked into his allegation that police waited ‘around 15 or 20 minutes’ after Mr Moura was put into the van before taking him to Ashton station, rather than a hospital.
(...)
Following a 12-month investigation, the watchdog passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service recommending criminal charges against five officers.
One officer was referred for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and misconduct in public office, and four others for misconduct in public office.
But another year later, the CPS has decided not to pursue the charges."
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