Jurors hear closing speeches in trial of two Strangeways officers accused of perjury

Jurors have heard closing speeches in the trial of two prison officers accused of perjury. The two former Strangeways officers allegedly gave false information during the inquest into the death of a man in custody, prosecutors claim.

Minshull Street Crown Court previously heard that John Edward Ahmed was a remand inmate at HMP Manchester when he died on July 29, 2015, following a 'restraint incident' in the prison’s segregation unit. An inquest was held into his death in 2017, it was said.

The coroner invited the jury to determine whether the restraint of Mr Ahmed in the segregation unit had been lawful and whether whilst in that unit, Mr Ahmed had sought to strike any of the officers who were dealing with him, jurors heard.

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Raymond Cook, 55, and Mark Bedford, 39, were each serving prison officers in the segregation unit at the time that Mr Ahmed was taken to the unit at the time he died, prosecutors said. Mr Cook was directly involved in the restraint and Mr Bedford was a witness to aspects of it, and responsible for the log relating to it, it was said. They both gave evidence at the inquest.

Manchester Crown Court previously heard that the evidence of the prison officers was that Mr Ahmed was struggling 'violently' whilst being restrained with Mr Cook on his left arm, and other officers on his right arm, his legs and his head. Mr Ahmed became pale and a request was made for assistance from healthcare professionals, jurors heard.

Mr Ahmed’s death was considered by a pathologist to be the result of the combination of the physical and emotional effects of the restraint and an underlying heart condition, it was said.

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