18 November 2021

Before HM Assistant Coroner Andrew Bridgeman
Manchester South Coroner’s Court

Opens 22 November 2021 - scheduled for two weeks

Gavin Brown died on 20 April 2019, eight days after an altercation outside a pub and subsequent contact with Greater Manchester Police. A jury inquest into his death opens Monday (22 November).

Gavin was a 29-year-old Black Caribbean man from Manchester. He became unconscious after an altercation at The Melville pub in Stretford, Manchester involving door staff and members of the public on 12 April 2019. He was restrained for six minutes by four people, including a door supervisor.

Greater Manchester police officers arrived and arrested Gavin, placing him in handcuffs whilst he was unresponsive. At some point, the officers realised how serious Gavin’s condition was and commenced CPR. Gavin was taken to Salford Royal Infirmary but ultimately died from his injuries.

The family describe Gavin as a “cheeky chappie” who enjoyed making people laugh. He was tall and well-built, and his family say that because of this he was sometimes misjudged. He was in fact a sensitive person who was loyal and cared deeply for others.

Gavin experienced a difficult childhood, spending time in foster care, but remained close to his family. He has two young daughters.

Gavin had experienced mental ill health since 2010. He had diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, which was being managed with medication. At the time of his death, Gavin was under a Community Treatment Order and in the care of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

A number of people were arrested in relation to Gavin’s death, but no charges were brought. Police announced they were no longer treating the incident as suspicious. 

The inquest will examine Gavin’s care in the community, the events of 12 April 2019 including Gavin’s contact with door staff and members of the public at the pub, the involvement of Greater Manchester Police and the nature of the police attendance, and the question of survivability.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information, photographs, and to note your interest contact Lucy McKay on [email protected] or 020 7263 1111

The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Lucie Boase of Broudie Jackson Canter Solicitors and Frederick Powell of Doughty Street Chambers.  

The other interested persons are Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), and two security guards and three members of the public.