A 2006 video showing the moment a Nigerian man, Frank Ogboru was killed by British officers has led to an investigation 14 years after his death.
A CCTV footage which was recorded in Woolwich, South East London in September 2006 captured the moment that Frank Ogboru died as police officers knelt on his neck, a similar restraint method used by an American police officer which resulted in the death of George Floyd few months ago in Minneapolis, US.
Officers were called to a block of flats where Mr Ogboru had argued with the owner’s girlfriend. The video shows him calmly talking to two officers.
But when the officers ordered Mr Ogboru not to return to the flat where he was staying, he disagreed and was led away by the police officers.
Off camera, the confrontation escalated and the officers used CS gas on Mr Ogboru in an attempt to handcuff him.
Members of the public gathered round, with one filming the struggle on the pavement on his mobile phone. The CCTV footage shows two more officers arriving to help restrain Mr Ogboru, who was still struggling.
As soon as the officers realized he wasn’t moving, they desperately tried to revive him but to no avail.
According to the pathologist reports, Mr Ogboru died from asphyxiation as a result of being restrained. However, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided “a jury would find that the restraint was not unlawful” as there was not sufficient evidence that the officers had breached their duty of care.
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Now, 14 years after Ogboru’s death, the CPS has decided to review the case. UK Coroners have now recommended a review of police training after an inquest jury found last week that officers had ignored Frank Ogboru as he cried out ‘i can’t breathe, you’re killing me’.
Watch video below: