Unlawful Killing

Kevin Blowe, coordinator for NETPOL (The Network for Police Monitoring) is a longstanding campaigner against police violence, suppression of protest and deaths in custody.In this episode, Kevin speaks about the myth of ‘police accountability’ and the importance of community response.Lucy and Lee reflect on different forms of accountability and how communities have responded to police violence then and now.Do we need reform or transformation? Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell.This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu. More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcastSupport this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donateFind out more about NETPOL: https://netpol.org/

Tommy Nicol died a self-inflicted death in prison whilst on an indeterminate prison sentence (IPP).Tommy’s sister Donna Mooney has been at the forefront of campaigning for change and challenging the harmful consequences of the IPP sentence, which was abolished back in 2012.Lucy and Lee speak to Donna about her fight and how accountability for Tommy’s death can only come when all those still serving IPP sentences are resentenced and finally have a release date in sight.Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell.This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu. More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcastSupport this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donateFind out more about UNGRIPP and their campaign against IPP: https://www.ungripp.com/

Sean Rigg was a Black man who died following violent police restraint whilst in a mental health crisis in Brixton in August 2008. His sister Marcia Rigg has been campaigning for justice ever since.We hear from Marcia about what drives her fight, the changes that have been achieved, and why there is no justice, there is just us. Lee and Lucy continue to explore what justice means, within and beyond the law, and how there is beauty and hope in a world we cannot yet imagine.

Connor Sparrowhawk was a funny 18-year-old who loved London buses. He was autistic and had epilepsy and learning disabilities. He died after drowning in a bath at an NHS care unit whilst the staff meant to be looking after him were doing a Tesco order.  Lucy and Lee speak to Connor’s mum, Sara Ryan, about who Connor was and her family’s longstanding campaign for justice, within and beyond the law.  Lee and Sara draw parallels between their experiences of caring for their loved ones in life, continuing that care in death through campaigning and finding strength in the communities that rose up to support them. Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.  Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell. This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.  More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate Find out more about the Justice for Laughing Boy campaign: http://justiceforlb.org/  Sara Ryan is a Patron of My Life My Choice: https://mylifemychoice.org.uk/ 

In the forty years since INQUEST was founded by families bereaved by deaths in police and prison custody, the ways in which these deaths are investigated has changed significantly. These changes were fought for by bereaved families, their lawyers, activists and organisations like INQUEST.Yet despite these changes, people continue to die preventable deaths at the hands of the state.In this episode, Lucy and Lee delve back into our archive to look at what’s changed, how the state continues to defend itself, and why bereaved families are still having to fight for the truth.Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell.This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu. More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcastSupport this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate 

When a member of the public dies in suspicious circumstances, there’s a criminal investigation. But what happens when it’s the state that’s the suspect? Lucy and Lee are back and this time, they’re looking at what happens after someone has died at the hands of the state and how families are often left in the dark fighting for answers. Shot in 1985 by police in Brixton, Cherry Groce died 26 years later. In 2011, an inquest found that Cherry died as a result of the bullet lodged in her spine. Lee tells us what happened after his mum’s death, the inquest process and his families’ long journey to the truth.  Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.  Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell. This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.  More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate Find out more about the Cherry Groce Foundation 

Matthew Leahy, 20, died in the care of Essex mental health services. A critical inquest and multiple investigations later, and still his mother Melanie Leahy does not know the truth about what happened to Matthew.Lucy speaks to Melanie about what Matthew meant to her, her relentless campaign for justice and why securing the first ever public inquiry into deaths in mental health services is so important.Lucy and Lee reflect on campaigning, what drives families to fight, and the strength in learning from others who know your pain.Learn more about the Essex mental health inquiry, officially known as The Lampard Inquiry, here.Will Powell has been fighting for justice ever since his son Robbie died of Addison’s disease 32 years ago. Find out more here. Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave OkumuMore information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcastSupport this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Mental health services are often framed as the caring alternative to policing and prisons. But Lucy and Lee look at what happens when the very system designed to protect us, fails to do just that.  Mikey Powell, 38, and Jess Durdy, 27, both died whilst in mental health crisis. Two very different stories. Two decades apart. Through these two very different instances of state violence and neglect, Lucy and Lee look at just how far-reaching the scale of the problem is, and the communities it harms the most. We hear from Mikey’s cousin Tippah Napthali and Jess’s mum Moira Durdy about what mental health services in Britain are really like and what their deaths have meant to them and their families.  Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith. This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate 

Liridon Saliuka, 29, took his own life whilst awaiting trail for joint enterprise charges at Belmarsh prison in London.Last year, an inquest into his death found that ill treatment and dismissiveness of his disability by prison staff contributed to his death.Lucy and Lee speak to Liridon’s sister Dita Saliuka, about what he meant to her, disability discrimination, and why prisons aren’t safe for anyone.Dita and Lee draw parallels between their experiences of caring for their loved ones, grieving their deaths and finding the strength to continue the fight.Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave OkumuMore information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcastSupport this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate