low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World |
| UK |
|
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales |
| UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health Education Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth AudioVideo |
|
 The BBC's Richard Bilton reports"A crucial day"  real 28k  |
Straw to examine double hanging
Family say West Mercia police failed to investigate properly
Home Secretary Jack Straw is to look into the deaths of two black men found hanged within six months of each other, after relatives said police failed to investigate the deaths properly.
Relatives of doorman Harold "Errol" McGowan, 34, and his nephew Jason, 20, believe their deaths were racially motivated killings, following a campaign of racial harassment in Telford, Shropshire.
Relatives of doorman Harold "Errol" McGowan, 34, and his nephew Jason, 20, believe their deaths were racially motivated killings, following a campaign of racial harassment in Telford, Shropshire.
I am going away with a positive outlook both with John Grieve and Jack Straw  |
Sinead McGowan
|
They met Mr Straw and the head of the Metropolitan Police's Racial and Violent Crime Task Force, John Grieves, on Wednesday to discuss the cases.
Solicitor Errol Robinson, acting for Errol McGowan, said: "We made a powerful case to the home secretary for the investigation to be removed from West Mercia and undertaken by the Metropolitan Police's Racial and Violent Crime Task Force."
The lawyer added: "The home secretary listened carefully and has indicated that he will consider the matter with great care and consult others."
Solicitor Errol Robinson, acting for Errol McGowan, said: "We made a powerful case to the home secretary for the investigation to be removed from West Mercia and undertaken by the Metropolitan Police's Racial and Violent Crime Task Force."
The lawyer added: "The home secretary listened carefully and has indicated that he will consider the matter with great care and consult others."
 Harold McGowan worked as a doorman
|
Solicitor Imran Khan, acting for Jason McGowan added: "We have viewed this meeting in a positive light. John Grieves has said he was
'willing and able' to investigate the deaths and the home secretary has been informed of his involvement."
He said they expected Mr Straw to make a decision on the matter shortly, possibly within a fortnight and was "hopeful" about the outcome of the meeting.
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said it welcomed the support of the Met task force in relation to the ongoing inquiry into the deaths, launched on 1 February.
Harold McGowan was found dead on 2 July last year and his nephew Jason was found hanging from railings on New Year's Day.
Families hope
Jason's widow Sinead thanked Jack Straw for agreeing to the meeting and said: "I am going away with a positive outlook both with John Grieve and Jack Straw."
Errol's brother Noel also said he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and said he wanted to get to the bottom of the deaths of the two men.
He said they expected Mr Straw to make a decision on the matter shortly, possibly within a fortnight and was "hopeful" about the outcome of the meeting.
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said it welcomed the support of the Met task force in relation to the ongoing inquiry into the deaths, launched on 1 February.
Harold McGowan was found dead on 2 July last year and his nephew Jason was found hanging from railings on New Year's Day.
Families hope
Jason's widow Sinead thanked Jack Straw for agreeing to the meeting and said: "I am going away with a positive outlook both with John Grieve and Jack Straw."
Errol's brother Noel also said he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting and said he wanted to get to the bottom of the deaths of the two men.
 Jason McGowan's father believes he took his own life
|
The Home Office said: "Mr Straw listened closely
to concerns about the tragic deaths of Harold and Jason McGowan, and expressed
his sympathy to the family.
"He said that he would consider carefully what was said and would communicate in due course with the families, their legal representatives and MPs."
However, not all relatives believe that the men's deaths were suspicious.
Robert King, the father of Jason McGowan, has said his son took his own life and urged an end to "lies and rumours" that he was killed by racists.
"He said that he would consider carefully what was said and would communicate in due course with the families, their legal representatives and MPs."
However, not all relatives believe that the men's deaths were suspicious.
Robert King, the father of Jason McGowan, has said his son took his own life and urged an end to "lies and rumours" that he was killed by racists.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
|
| BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
See also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
Links to other UK stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~18~RS~)