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Prosecuting QC Courtenay Griffiths

Ten officers in court over the death of Mikey Powell

The trial of ten police officers charged in connection with the death of Mikey Powell began last week at Leicester Crown Court.

The officers, from Thornhill police station in Handsworth, Birmingham, all pleaded not guilty to assault and misconduct charges.

Relatives and friends of Mikey Powell, who have waited two and a half years to get to this stage, sat in the public gallery as 12 charges were read out.

Powell died on September 7 2003 in the Lozells area of Birmingham.

The trial was moved to Leicester after lawyers for the officers successfully argued they would not get a fair trial in Birmingham.

Constable Timothy Lewis is charged with two counts of assault, while his colleague David Hadley faces one battery charge.

PCs Christopher Wilson and Steven Hollyman will answer to misconduct charges of wilfully participating in excessive restraint.

PCs Anthong Guest, Nigel Hackett, Lee Howard, Luke Gill, Andrew Edwards and sergeant David Williams face misconduct charges relating to wilful neglect to prevent excessive restraint and failing to attend to Mr Powell's deteriorating condition.

The trial, before Judge Sir Douglas Brown, is expected to take up to ten weeks.

High-flying barrister Courtenay Griffiths QC is leading the prosecution counsel. He is most famous for successfully defending two of the original suspects in the Damilola Taylor murder trial in 2003 after discrediting the main prosecution witness.

The trial continues.

Published: 17 May 2006
Issue: 1218

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