A misconduct panel is deliberating the case of two Met officers linked to a man’s death in custody, raising serious allegations against them
London: A misconduct panel is now considering the case of two Metropolitan Police officers involved in the death of Kevin Clarke, who died in custody back in 2018. The officers, Pc Danielle Barnes and Pc Elizabeth McAleenan, are accused of ignoring Clarke’s cries for help.
Clarke, who struggled with mental health issues, was restrained by multiple officers after being found acting strangely in a park. Sadly, he lost consciousness while being taken to an ambulance.
During the hearing, it was claimed that the officers heard Clarke say, “I can’t breathe,” but didn’t act on it. The footage from their body cameras was played, showing them close to Clarke, which raises questions about their actions.
Clarke’s family was present during the hearing, hoping for accountability. The panel is now weighing the evidence to decide if the officers’ actions amounted to gross misconduct.
Defense lawyers argue that the footage isn’t clear enough to prove the officers heard Clarke’s pleas. They maintain that the officers did everything they could to help him at the time.
The panel is expected to announce its decision soon, and many are watching closely to see what happens next in this troubling case.
