Man, 29, who died after police restraint ‘in a very dark place’
A MAN who died when he suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after being restrained by police had been in a “very dark” place with his mental health, an inquest was told yesterday.
Mouayed Bashir, 29, died on February 17, 2021.
His parents called 999 and asked for an ambulance and police for their son that morning, the inquest heard.
His father Mamoun Bashir told the operator his son had “not been himself” for several days and said he was worried he would jump out of the window.
Caroline Saunders, senior coroner for Gwent, heard officers arrived at the family home in Maesglas, Newport, within seven minutes and found Mr Bashir had “trashed” his room.
In a video shown to the jury earlier in the inquest officers can be seen strapping restraining tape to tie his knees and ankles together while he screams, and later handcuffing him when he appears calmer.
He suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after and was taken to the Grange University Hospital, Cwmbran, where he later died.
Yesterday the inquest heard Mr Bashir had been waiting for a decision in an appeal against the Home Office.
His mental health “evolved” due to this, his father said, and as a result of a reported stab wound to his leg.
His father said he had asked if his son could return to Sudan and his case be dropped, as it had all become “too much” for Mouayed, but he was told to wait as the hearing would occur soon.
The inquest also explored Mr Bashir’s drug use.
He had been taking prescription drugs not supplied to him by his doctor, said Louis Browne, representing the Welsh Ambulance Service, and he had olanzapine and diazepam in his system when he died.
Mr Bashir had previously contacted his GP and was offered support from the Gwent Drug and Alcohol Service.
He engaged with them but later on stopped engaging, the inquest heard.
His father said he was aware his son had taken drugs but “did not ever” witness it personally.
A “couple of days” before his son’s death, Mamoun Bashir said he found a plastic bag of white powder in his son’s room and had taken it away from him.
He gave this to officers after they restrained his son and it was later tested and found to contain 1.05g of cocaine.
Mamoun Bashir was questioned by John Beggs KC, representing Gwent Police, over officers’ restraint of his son.
He said he disagreed with the decisions to handcuff his son and restrain him with velcro straps.
Officers cleared debris from the room and removed the door and a mattress to make space and kept Mouayed Bashir on his left side to keep his airway clear, the inquest heard.
His father agreed they were sensible to have done this and were doing their best but said they could have moved Mr Bashir to a different room and disagreed they had him in the best position.
The inquest went through some minor discrepancies between a statement Mamoun Bashir wrote for the Independent Office of Police Conduct in 2021 and another he wrote in October 2023 over the timing of his son throwing things out of a window.
He acknowledged these discrepancies were incorrect and said: “That atmosphere, that time for a father, seeing his son dying, and being treated the way everybody saw him... the officers stopping even the mother and father seeing what is being done to their loved one... the next minute it was very difficult for me to think properly.”
The inquest also heard evidence from Mr Bashir’s brother Mohamed Bashir who said that on February 16 he massaged his sibling’s knee after he complained it was infected.
Later, after waking up and hearing his brother and father having a conversation, he found his brother rocking himself repeating: “Sorry bro, sorry bro.”
A pen portrait of Mr Bashir was read by his brother Mohannad Bashir, who said: “When I was growing up Mouayed was my best friend.”
He added: “He always tried to make the family smile, especially our mum.”
The inquest continues.
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