CRIMINAL TRIAL OF POLICE SERGEANT FOR PERJURY FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF SEAN RIGG TO BEGIN ON MONDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2016

Thursday 27th October 2016

Before Mr Justice Singh and jury

10.30am at Southwark Crown Court, 1 English Grounds, London SE1 2HU

The prosecution of Sergeant Paul White, a Metropolitan Police Service officer, will begin at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, 31st October 2016. The trial is scheduled to last two weeks.

Sgt White is charged with perjury following an investigation into his evidence at the inquest concerning the death of Sean Rigg.

Sean Rigg had a history of serious mental ill-health. He died at Brixton police station on the evening of 21st August 2008 following prolonged restraint by MPS police officers, not including Sgt White, who was one of the custody sergeants at Brixton police station that evening. In August 2012, an inquest jury at Southwark Coroner’s Court returned a verdict criticising the actions of the police, including the unsuitable use of force on Sean Rigg.

Ends

Notes to editors:

Neither INQUEST, the family or legal team will be making any further statement until the conclusion of the trial.

INQUEST has been working with the family of Sean Rigg since his death. The Rigg family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Daniel Machover and Helen Stone of Hickman and Rose Solicitors; Leslie Thomas QC and Tom Stoate of Garden Court Chambers; and Jude Bunting of Doughty Street Chambers.

For information, contact Victoria McNally or Gill Goodby at INQUEST on 0207 263 1111.

INQUEST provides specialist advice on deaths in custody or detention or involving state failures in England and Wales. This includes a death in prison, in police custody or following police contact, in immigration detention or psychiatric care. INQUEST's policy and parliamentary work is informed by its casework and we work to ensure that the collective experiences of bereaved people underpin that work. Its overall aim is to secure an investigative process that treats bereaved families with dignity and respect; ensures accountability and disseminates the lessons learned from the investigation process in order to prevent further deaths.

Please refer to INQUEST the organisation in all capital letters in order to distinguish it from the legal hearing.