The family is represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Cyrilia Knight and Isabel Gregory of Saunders Solicitors and Una Morris of Garden Court Chambers.
They are supported by INQUEST Senior Caseworker Jodie Anderson.
The below content has been reproduced from an INQUEST press release.
See coverage in The Guardian: ‘Terrified’ black man died after police restrained him, inquest hears
Godrick Osei, a 35 year old Black man died on 3 July 2022. He was experiencing a mental health crisis. Now an inquest into his death has begun hearing evidence.
Originally from London, Godrick was staying in Truro, Cornwall at the time of his death. His family describe him as a deeply loved son, brother, father, and uncle; a gentle giant who was incredibly close to his family and had so much more he wanted to achieve in life, so many hopes he was holding onto, and someone who was trying to overcome the battles he was facing with his mental health following the death of his father.
Godrick was defined, the family told the court, by his heart, his kindness, his loyalty and his love for his family. They spoke of how his quiet but powerful presence made others around him feel safe and how his death has left a hole in their lives that can never be filled.
Godrick appeared to be experiencing an acute mental health episode in the early hours of Sunday 3 July 2022. He is understood to have fled from his partner’s flat, expressing paranoid thoughts that he was being chased by people with guns. He made a number of calls to 999 seeking help. Godrick then entered a nearby care home, where he hid in a staff toilet.
Care home staff also called 999, and police officers arrived around 10 minutes later. At least eight Devon and Cornwall police officers are understood to have been present over the course of the incident. Officers forced entry into the toilet where Godrick was hiding. He continued calling out for help.
Godrick died in the care home, following restraint by the officers, within an hour of them arriving. The inquest will examine the circumstances of Godrick’s death and the actions of Devon and Cornwall police, including their uses of force and whether race played a role in the treatment Godrick received.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, a photo, and interview requests please contact Jodie Anderson on jodieanderson@inquest.org.uk or 020 7263 1111.
Other Interested persons represented are Devon and Cornwall Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
In 2019, Devon and Cornwall Police were prosecuted for health and safety breaches relating to the death of Thomas Orchard in 2012. Thomas had been dangerously restrained by police whilst experiencing a mental health crisis.
Godrick’s death is part of a broader and longstanding pattern of a disproportionate number of deaths of Black men following police use of force, particularly those in mental health crisis. It follows the death of Oladeji Omishore following Metropolitan Police use of force, whilst he was in mental health crisis, just one month before.
Research by INQUEST in 2022 found that Black people are seven times more likely to die following police restraint than White people.
