A jury has today delivered a verdict of unlawful killing in the inquest into the death of Jimmy Mubenga. Mr Mubenga died of positional asphyxia in October 2010 in the custody of G4S security guards while being deported from the UK to Angola. His family were represented by Henry Blaxland QC.
Mr Mubenga died on a plane at Heathrow airport while being restrained by detention officers employed by G4S as he was being deported. After an eight-week hearing, the inquest jury at Isleworth Crown Court found that one or more of the officers used unreasonable force when they held Mr Mubenga with his head down, restricting his breathing . Mr Mubenbga had been heard by passengers to call for help and to say that he could not breathe.
The Crown Prosecution Service is now to reconsider a decision not to bring criminal charges.
Mr Mubenga's widow, Adrienne Makenda Kambana, the family's solicitor, and Deborah Coles, co-Director of INQUEST responded to the verdict by making statements, which are available on the INQUEST website.
Henry Blaxland QC represented Mr Mubenga's family at the inquest, and was instructed by Mark Scott of Bhatt Murphy solicitors.
The case has been widely reported, including by the BBC, The Guardian and The Independent.
Henry Blaxland QC is Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, and a member of the Inquest Team.
