Next week, the family and friends of Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah who died after being arrested by Thames Valley Police will hold a vigil to mark the five years since his death.
Habib died on 3 July 2008 after a stop and search on a car in which Habib was a passenger. Five police officers were involved in restraining Habib, who became ‘limp’ and later died in hospital. An inquest began in December 2010 but was abandoned after two weeks at the request of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The family are still waiting for a new date to be set for a reconvened inquest and to see whether the Crown Prosecution Service will bring charges against the officers who changed their statements following the death. (Read an IRR News story: ‘Sudden about turn in Habib Ullah case’).
Samah Raja, sister of Habib said in advance of the vigil: ‘It’s has been a long, tiring and agonising five years since our beloved father, brother and husband died at the hands of the police, we will not stop fighting to get justice for him. Only the family knows the pain and trauma we go through every day of missing Habib and we are determined and have faith and will not stop fighting. The inquest in 2010 was heart-breaking and was abandoned due to police cover-ups which came to light. We are having continuous meetings and updates from the IPCC and CPS and a thorough investigation is now taking place as the initial investigation had many flaws. Hopefully this time the investigators will be honest and transparent with the truth. Thank you to all our friends and families standing by our side and supporting us. We promise we will not give up until justice has been served.’
The vigil takes place on Wednesday 3 July 2013 at High Wycombe police station from 5-7.30.
Related links
Download a flyer (pdf file, 524kb)
Justice for Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah website
Facebook: Justice for Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah
Twitter: Justice4Paps
United Families and Friends Campaign
Read an IRR News story: ‘Sudden about turn in Habib Ullah case’