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Legal
Smiley Culture’s family demand full investigation into death
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 1 April 2011
Family and friends of Smiley Culture demanded answers over the death of the reggae MC during a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority earlier this week.
As previously reported, Smiley Culture, real name David Emmanuel, died during a police raid on his Surrey home last month. While under arrest he was apparently allowed to go to his kitchen alone to make a cup of tea, where he died of a single stab wound to the heart. An inquest was told that the wound was self-inflicted.
The meeting at City Hall this week grew tense as Emmanuel’s death was discussed, the Guardian reports, particularly when Met Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin attempted to move the discussion on to other topics, saying: “It is wrong to jump to judgment either way until we see the evidence that is produced. And my sympathies are extended to the family and friends. I hope the investigation will be thorough and speedy and open to scrutiny at the end”.
Former adviser to Ken Livingstone during his time as London mayor, Lee Jasper shouted from the gallery: “Is there a letter of condolence? It would be nice, if you died in custody, would it not?”
A close friend of the rapper then cried “murderers” and “you’re killing us” before being removed by friends. The meeting was then adjourned after attendees in the public gallery began to chant: “no justice, no peace” and others in the room walked out in protest, one such person, MPA member Cindy Butts, saying: “It has been 30 years since the Brixton riots and so much has changed but we have so much [still] to do”.
Speaking in the lobby, Jasper said: “Smiley Culture was a friend of mine. We’ve had a suspicious death in custody and we want answers and we want them quick. So, whatever process or investigation that they have, they better fast track. Because I tell you what, you’ve got a black community here that are on boiling point and everybody needs to know that we’re not simply going to lay back and wait for the long road of justice to deliver fifteen years later. We want answers and we want them now”.
The Independent Police Commission’s investigation into Emmanuel’s death is ongoing. His family are organising a march through London on 16 Apr from south London to New Scotland Yard.
