Custody death film names officers

No-one was prosecuted after the death of Shiji Lapite

A documentary about deaths in police custody which labels eight serving officers as killers, will be shown for the first time on Wednesday.

The film, about the deaths of black people in police custody, identifies those officers believed by relatives of the dead to be responsible - although none of the officers has ever been convicted of any crime.

The organisation United Families and Friends (UFF) spent six years making the 98-minute film, Injustice.

Its premiere in central London was due to take place last Friday, but was cancelled by the cinema owners at the last minute after legal action was threatened.

We will show the film tonight, whatever happens

Ken Fero
Film producer

But despite the legal threat from solicitors representing two of the officers, UFF co-director and film producer Ken Fero said the screening would go ahead on Wednesday, "whatever happens".

Cases highlighted in the documentary include:

• Shiji Lapite, who died after being restrained by officers in Clapton, east London, in December 1994. Pathologists recorded 36-45 separate injuries and a coroner's jury returned a unanimous verdict of unlawful killing, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute.

• Ibrahima Sey, a 29-year-old Gambian asylum-seeker and father-of-two, arrested after a domestic incident in March 1996. He died of asphyxia after being sprayed with CS gas and being restrained face down for 15 minutes until he stopped breathing. An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing but the CPS decided against prosecutions.

• Music promoter Brian Douglas, who died after being hit by a police baton during a stop and search in Clapham, south London, in May 1995.

Relatives of the dead are expected to attend Wednesday's screening, at Conway Hall in central London.

Following the premiere, the film is due to run for a fortnight at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton, south London, in September.

Mr Fero said it is also booked to be shown at the European Parliament and in the US.