§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Oscar Okoye following his arrest in south London. [16414]
750W
§ Mr. MacleanI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that Mr. Okoye was arrested on Friday 14 June 1996 for failing to give a specimen of breath, being suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol and suspected assault. Mr. Okoye was seen by the custody officer at Streatham police station and then referred to a forensic medical examiner, who was concerned about the level of alcohol Mr. Okoye had consumed as he was a diabetic. Mr. Okoye was taken to St. George's hospital. He was then transferred to Atkinson Morely hospital, where a scan revealed a frontal haematoma. An operation was carried out on 18 June, which appeared at that stage to be successful. Mr. Okoye remained in hospital and died on 11 November from acute renal failure, diabetes militis and intracerebral haemorrhage.