13th May 2013

10am, Monday 13 May 2013 – first evidence to be heard Tuesday 14 May

Isleworth Crown Court, 36 Ridgeway Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 5LP
Before Karon Monaghan QC, Assistant Deputy Coroner for Hammersmith and Fulham

The inquest into the death of Jimmy Mubenga will begin at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday 13 May. It is scheduled for 8 weeks. There will be no evidence heard on the first day. Evidence will begin on Tuesday 14 May with a statement from Jimmy Mubenga’s wife, Adrienne Makenda Kambana, followed over the next few days by evidence from the escorting officers involved in the restraint of Mr Mubenga.

Jimmy Mubenga, a healthy 46 year old Angolan man, died on 12 October 2010 following restraint by three G4S security guards on a flight from Heathrow airport to Angola. G4S is a private security firm which was contracted by UK Border Agency to escort deportees on flights until the end of April 2011. Reliance (now known as Tascor), also a private security company, took over the contract in May 2011.

Mr Mubenga left behind a widow and five children aged one to 17 years at the time of his death. The family hopes the inquest will address the following questions:

• Did the officers or any one of them use unreasonable force while detaining Mr Mubenga on the aircraft?
• What oversight and safeguards were in place to monitor enforced removals?
• What action was taken by UKBA/ Ministry of Justice/G4S in response to growing cross sector knowledge about the risks of restraint in the seated position?

Adrienne Makenda Kambana, Jimmy Mubenga’s widow said:

“Jimmy has gone forever. We need justice. Justice will help Jimmy rest in peace. Justice will give the other passengers on the plane piece of mind about what happened. Justice will protect people in the future because I don’t want anyone else to be in my shoes. Justice will help my children not to feel angry about what happened to their father. I need justice especially for my daughter who did not get the chance to know her father. We will never forget Jimmy.”

Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST said:

“INQUEST is extremely concerned about this brutal death at the hands of private G4S security guards. A wealth of evidence exists about the dangers of restraint techniques following other restraint related deaths and is well known to both the Home office, UKBA and G4S.

“Restraint in a seated position was known to be extremely dangerous following the death of 15 year old Gareth Myatt in 2004 in Rainsbrook STC, which was also contracted to G4S. The inquest must explore both the actions of the guards, the legality of the restraint used as well as the actions of those with corporate control and oversight.”

INQUEST has been working with the family of Jimmy Mubenga since his death in 2010. The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Mark Scott from Bhatt Murphy solicitors and barristers Henry Blaxland QC of Garden Court and Fiona Murphy of Doughty Street.

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. INQUEST has produced a comprehensive briefing on the death of Jimmy Mubenga and the associated issues
2. Please note the family of Jimmy Mubenga will not be giving interviews until after the inquest has concluded. Interview requests should be directed to INQUEST.