Inquest into the death of Thomas Orchard.
Susannah Stevens led Thomas Coke-Smyth representing four Devon and Cornwall police Response Officers who were involved in the arrest and detention of Thomas Orchard, prior to his death. Mr Orchard died in hospital on 10 October 2012, after having been found unresponsive in his police cell where he was detained on 3 October 2012 following arrest.
The six week inquest examined the actions of Devon and Cornwall Police Force and its officers insofar as the use of an authorised spit guard (Emergency Response Belt) and/or the use of the prone position, during the restraint, contributed to Mr Orchard’s death. The cause of death was complex, requiring the need for three pathologists, a cardiologist and a survability expert.
The jury concluded that all force used by the response officers during Mr Orchard’s initial arrest, and in the custody suite, was reasonable. The introduction of the ERB by Devon and Cornwall Police, and its subsequent lawful use by individual officers, were found to be possible contributing factors to death. Despite the joint evidence of the pathologists and the survability expert that the use of the prone position had probably caused death, the jury found that it had only possibly done so.
Susannah also led Thomas at the misconduct hearing for three of the officers, where they successfully argued that the proceedings should be 'stayed as an abuse of process', due to procedural unfairness and significant disclosure failings.
Thomas Orchard: Belt may have contributed to death - inquest jury - BBC News
Thomas Orchard: Family 'failed' by police hearing – BBC News
Susannah Stevens
Thomas Coke-Smyth