5 July 2019

Before HM Senior Coroner for Oxfordshire Michael Salter
Oxford Coroner’s Court, County Hall, New Road, Oxford, OX1 1ND
Opens Monday 8 July, expected to last 2 weeks
 
Nuno Cardoso, a 25 year old law student from Kentish Town, died following arrest by Thames Valley Police on 24 November 2017 in Oxford. The inquest into his death opens on Monday (8 July) at Oxford Coroner’s Court.
 
Nuno was arrested and restrained before officers decided to transport him to a police station. He reportedly appeared to suffer a deterioration in his health while on the way to the police station. Medical assistance was provided by police officers and paramedics, but Nuno died at the John Radcliffe Hospital later that day.
 
Nuno grew up in North London but had moved to Oxford in September to start a law course at college. He was bright, liked a good debate, and was excited about his future. He told his family of his ambition to be the “best lawyer in the country.” He was a big fan of Arsenal Football Club and enjoyed music and cooking for his family. He was happy and popular, and his family are devastated by his sudden death.
 
The inquest will explore issues relating to the decision to convey Nuno to the police station and the medical assistance sought.
 
ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information and to note your interest, please contact Sarah Uncles on 020 7263 1111 or [email protected]

Nuno’s family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Ruth Mellor of Saunders Law and Una Morris of Garden Court Chambers.
 
Other Interested Persons represented at the inquest are Thames Valley Police, four of the police officers involved in the incident, and South Central Ambulance Service.

Leroy Junior Medford died whilst in the care of Thames Valley police officers on 2 April 2017. The jury returned a highly critical narrative conclusion identifying individual and systemic failures in relation to the Drugs Standard Operating Procedure. Media release.

In October 2017 the landmark Independent review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody by Dame Elish Angiolini QC was published. Angiolini’s review found that police practice must recognise that all restraint can cause death and made a series of recommendations on the use of force and restraint more broadly. She also made recommendations on institutional racism, as well as on intoxicated subjects.
 
In December 2018, the Home Office published the first national statistics on police use of force (April 2017-March 2018). Black people were over represented, as subject in 12% of incidents but representing only 3.3% of the general population. See INQUEST media release for more information.