A FLAWED investigation by the Scottish police watchdog into the death in custody of a 31-year-old man earlier this year shows the body is “unfit for purpose,” campaigners claimed yesterday.

Sheku Bayoh died after being restrained by officers in Kirkaldy on May 3.

Reports suggest that Mr Bayoh was covered in cuts and bruises and suffered a broken rib during his encounter with the police.

It has been reported that in the hours after he died he had petechial haemorrhages in both eyes, a sign of suffocation, and he is also said to have had more than 20 cuts and bruises to his face, including a large square cut to his forehead and cuts on his lips and mouth.

Campaigners have accused the watchdog, the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), of failing to secure timely statements from the officers who detained Mr Bayoh.

They further expressed concern over reports yesterday

that the PIRC has approached a controversial US pathologist, Dr Steven Karch, who claims that many deaths in police custody are the result of a bizarre medical condition called “excited delirium.”

This is not recognised as a medical condition by the World Health Organisation and is hardly ever cited except in cases involving an altercation with police.

Deborah Coles of Inquest, a charity that focuses on deaths in custody, said: “We believe ‘excited delirium’ is used to try to explain away police custody deaths, rather than understand the significant role excessive restraint has played.

“Dr Karch has advised security and policing systems in the US and the decision to instruct him speaks worryingly about the independence of the PIRC.”

The PIRC has responded to concerns over the involvement of Dr Karch in the Bayoh case by saying that its investigation is not focused on a particular cause of death, adding that it has “identified a number of expert forensic pathologists to the Crown Office.”

But Richard Haley, chair of Scotland against Criminalising Communities (SACC), said: “The PIRC denies that it is prejudging the case. But it’s impossible to understand why it would approach Dr Karch except in response to pressure from the police.

“It appears to be leaving no stone unturned in trying to provide the police with a way out of their problem.”