RESTRAINT by officers resulted in the death of a Crymych man in police custody, according to a forensic pathologist.

The inquest into the death of former teacher Meirion James continued in County Hall, Haverfordwest, this week.

Mr James died on January 31, 2015, aged 53, following restraint at Haverfordwest Police Station, where he had been taken after calling police to say he had assaulted his mother.

The jury heard the last of the evidence from the three-week hearing on Monday, January 21, and are expected to retire for their deliberations on Wednesday or Thursday.

Meirion James.

Forensic pathologist Dr Derek James’ report was read to the hearing, concluding: “The closest one can get to a cause of death is a narrative as follows: The sudden death of a man with a body mass index of 38 who suffered acute behavioural abnormality, with a background of bi-polar disorder and long-term drug treatment, during a struggle against physical restraint and after expose to Pava.”

Dr James added that Mr James was held in a prone position on his stomach by a number of officers, and his restraint was a ‘contributory factor’ to his death

Rajiv Menon QC for Mr James’ family asked: “But for the restraint, he would not have died on that day?”

Dr James replied: “I think that’s overwhelmingly likely, yes.”

Former state pathologist for northern Ireland, Professor Jack Crane, gave the cause of death as positional asphyxia due to restraint following acute behavioural disturbance, adding that Mr James suffered cardio pulmonary arrest as a result, and his weight would have also been a factor.

Professor Crane added that he did not think the use of Pava spray played any part in Mr James’ death.

He said: “I am of the opinion that that restraint has been the cause of his death.”

“In this case the most significant factor, in my opinion is the restraint of Mr James while he was lying on the corridor floor on his front.”

More from the inquest

Last Tuesday police custody sergeant Mark Murray described sprinting to the cells to assist colleagues restraining Mr James after rushed out of his cell door as it was opened.

CCTV footage showed six officers trying to restrain Mr James at one point, but the camera was later obscured by a door opened to disperse the Pava gas.

Sgt Murray described Mr James’ head as ‘hot to the touch’ when he pushed against it to restrain the prisoner against the floor.

As the struggle continued, Sgt Murray noted one of Mr James’ hands, which had been handcuffed, was becoming paler and there were small spots of blood around his face, a larger amount of darker blood then appeared to drip from his mouth.

Mr James pictured on police CCTV rushing at officers outside his cell. PICTURE: Released by the coroner.

Paramedics were called and arrived to help Mr James.

Sgt Murray described how he felt deeply upset by what had happened.

The inquest also heard from Dr June Picton, called to the police station at approximately 7.20am to assess Mr James.

She said she was unaware of Mr James’ prior difficulties with bipolar disorder and described Mr James as seeming well-balanced and talkative during her interview, and recommended police reduce the observation level for him from level four to level 1, meaning he would be checked once every hour.

The inquest is expected to conclude later this week.