Aamer Anwar

The public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh, who died in police custody on 3 May 2015, is entering its final chapter.

Mr Anwar, the lead solicitor who has acted on behalf of Mr Bayoh’s family for over nine years, will give evidence from 10am tomorrow morning. His evidence is expected to last at least for the whole morning session.

His full written statement is expected to be published online later in that day.

Speaking in advance of tomorrow’s hearing, Mr Anwar said: “Why is it that a black man is always held responsible for his own death in police custody?

“Kadie – Sheku’s sister – said Sheku is Scotland’s George Floyd, but the only difference is that in America four days of protests led to four officers facing trial, whilst in Scotland four years of trusting the justice system gave them betrayal and lies.

“One of the justifications advanced at the public inquiry by police officers was that they believed they may be under a terrorist attack – it was nothing of the sort.

“No family should ever have to go through the burden of losing a loved one in police custody and then to find that the legal system fails them.

“Families should never have to rely on their own efforts to make sure the full facts about such deaths are established and those responsible for deaths are held to account.

“There is something deeply shameful about a system of justice where people are unlawfully killed at the hands of our protectors and those perpetrators remain free.

“The dead cannot cry out for justice, but it is the duty of the living to do so for them. The loved ones of Sheku Bayoh have done exactly that and will continue to do so.”

Mr Anwar will arrive at the public inquiry at 9.20am with members of the Bayoh family, Sheku’s partner Collette Bell, members of the trade union movement, political representatives, as well as Manjit Sangha, sister of murder victim Surjit Singh Chhokar, and Linda Allan, mother of Katie Allan.