Shukri Abdi: Why lawyers are suing the police for failing to do a full investigation

Lawyers say there are more than 20 inconsistencies in evidence surrounding Shukri Adbi's case

Shukri Abdi
THE FIGHT CONTINUES: Lawyers have not given up seeking justice for Shukri, although an inquest last month ruled her death an accident (Picture via Getty Images)

LAWYERS ACTING on behalf of Shukri Abdi are set to pursue an unlawful killing verdict at high court, after an inquest ruled the 12-year-old schoolgirl’s death an accident.

Our community will know that Shukri died on June 2017, after entering the River Irwell in Bury.

She was found with children she did not usually socialise with, after school, though she was known to go directly home.

Lawyers believe they have a chance to get the unlawful killing verdict they want, because the law has changed since the inquest.

Now, inquests no longer need to meet a criminal standard for unlawful killing, but a lower, civil standard.

Put simply, this means that Shukri Abdi’s family lawyers are more confident they can get that verdict they hoped for at the start.

Did Greater Machester Police respect Shukri Abdi’s right to life?

Getting the unlawful killing verdict is important because it strengthens their civil action against Greater Manchester Police (GMP), who they are suing under Section 2 of the Human Rights Act – the right to life.

Lawyers argue that the police force did not investigate the 12-year-old schoolgirl’s death properly back in 2019.

The family believe this is due to institutional racism within the force.

When the force failed to investigate thoroughly, they failed to respect Shukri Abdi’s right to life, lawyers argue.

They say there are more than 20 inconsistencies in evidence surrounding Shukri Adbi’s case.

Family lawyer Attik Maliq says there is no evidence that it was nervous laughter, when children laughed as she was left to drown.

Did Greater Manchester Police conduct a full and thorough investigation?

Similarly, he says there is no evidence that when one of the children said: “Get into the water or I’ll kill you,” they were just using a figure of speech.

Therefore, they claim that Greater Manchester police failed to conduct a full and thorough investigation.

Before 2018, there was no way to hold police accountable for this.

However the case of Black cab rapist John Worboys changed that.

Victims who had reported his crime years prior in 2003 and 2007, sued the police for not investigating properly.

When police failed to properly investigate, the supreme court found they had been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment under Section 3 of the European convention on human rights.

Family lawyer Attiq Malik said: “We stated at the conclusion of the coroners court proceedings, that whilst those proceedings were an end of a chapter in the pursuit of justice for Shukri, it was not the end of the book.  

“The inquest unveiled the truth of what happened to Shukri on the day and who failed her, as well as her family.

“Now that the inquiry process is over it is time for the challenge process to begin, to hold those who failed Shukri to account, the first of which being GMP.”

A police force under fire?

Greater Manchester Police Force has been placed under special measures. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that about 220 crimes a day went unrecorded in the year up to June 2020.

A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson said: “The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an independent investigation and reviewed GMP’s response following the death of Shurki Abdi. 
 
“The IOPC concluded their investigation and no learning was identified for GMP.

“Following the Inquest, a civil claim has been started and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.

“Our sincere thoughts remain with Shurki’s loved ones and those affected by her death.”

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