Date set for inquest into death of dad left naked and unresponsive in back of police van

An inquest into the death of a dad who was left naked and unresponsive in the back of a police van will be held later this year. Andre Moura, 30, died after being arrested by officers from GMP for breach of the peace outside his home on Seventh Avenue in Oldham on the night of July 6, 2018.

A jury inquest to determine how Mr Moura came by his death was due to begin in January 2022 but was postponed after a number of potential jurors tested positive for Covid-19. It will now be held on November 21, senior coroner Alison Mutch confirmed.

The inquest is set to last four weeks and during at pre-inquest review (PIR) hearing at Stockport Coroner's Court, Ms Mutch said that a pool of 25 potential jurors have already been summonsed. Ms Mutch also asked that any legal representatives attend the inquest in person, rather than remotely via Microsoft Teams.

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She said: "From my perspective, at this point, I'm minded to indicate that the advocates should be present while hearing the evidence. What I also think is sensible is to assess how things are going as we progress."

Ms Mutch added: "I very much hope we won’t need another PIR but otherwise I will see everyone on 21 November. The jury have been asked to appear promptly and I would like counsel to be available please from 9.30am that day."

Four police officers involved in the case were previously found guilty of misconduct at a tribunal hearing, but were allowed to keep their jobs. Following a three-week hearing in December 2021, the four officers were all found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in a manner so serious it could have amounted to gross misconduct and dismissal.

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