Walsall man restrained at mental health unit asked to see children before death, misconduct panel hears

Kingsley Burrell suffered a cardiac arrest after he was transferred to a mental health unit, where he was handcuffed and forced to wear leg restraints.

Witnesses claim the father-of-three's face was covered as he was moved, but three police officers who were within 'touching distance' of Mr Burrell claim nothing was wrapped around his head.

A misconduct hearing heard how the Walsall man, who died seven years ago, asked to be reunited with his children while police were restraining him.

Fiona Barton, acting on behalf of West Midlands Police, said: "What is pretty clear is that the last thing that Kingsley said, very shortly before being taken to the seclusion room, was 'what are you doing this for, I just want to see my kids'."

Pcs Paul Adey, Mark Fannan and Paul Greenfield deny wrongdoing and claim they did not use 'excessive' force when restraining Mr Burrell or that they lied during the 29-year-old's inquest in 2015.

The misconduct hearing at Sutton Coldfield Police Station heard how Mr Burrell was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and sent to Birmingham's Mary Seacole unit on March 27, 2011.

But three days later medical staff called police after Mr Burrell threatened to kill them, armed with a toothbrush.

He was taken to the emergency department at the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment to a left eye injury following a 'prolonged and violent struggle' with police.

Mr Burrell was 'shouting and swearing' as he lay on an ambulance stretcher with handcuffs and leg restraints, with an item covering his face to stop him spitting.

He was 'thrashing about' in a hospital cubicle while still restrained as medics attempted to assess his injury, the hearing was told on Monday.

Ms Barton said: "Kingsley had the capacity to given consent. He was never asked to give consent to the treatment performed upon him.

"The medical treatment was in fact performed while Kingsley was restrained and resisting. The only available conclusion is that Kingsley was not consenting to his treatment.

"He was assaulted by both the treating staff and the officers who restrained him for that purpose."

Mr Burrell was later transferred to a seclusion room at the city's Oleaster facility, still restrained and with his face covered.

Officers are alleged to have used force against Mr Burrell, including punching him, placing hands around his jawline to push it up, kneeling on him and holding him down by his shoulder and leg.

All three officers deny they breached standards of professional behaviour by providing a dishonest and misleading account during interview, that they never sought to correct that account and repeated that dishonest account during inquest.

They also deny they used force which was inappropriate, unnecessary, and excessive.

The hearing continues.