Jack Barnes
Jack Barnes, 29, suffered a cardiac arrest and died weeks later after Metrolink workers held him in Manchester in 2016.
The inquest heard Barnes became aggressive after being confronted by a Metrolink customer service representative (CSR) in October 2016 before he and a friend ran off. But four workers decided to chase them. Manchester Coroner’s Court heard after a nine-minute chase Barnes was caught by one of the workers and bundled to the ground.
Bodycam footage showed that within moments of being caught, while being held down with his left cheek on the pavement, Barnes asked for help and shouted out: “I can’t breathe.” The inquest heard Barnes suffered a cardiac arrest and died seven weeks later on 2 December 2016.
Despite three case reviews by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) no-one has ever been charged over the death of Barnes. In February 2021 coroner said the workers’ actions amounted to manslaughter. In April 2021 the Crown Prosecution Service has ordered a review of the case.
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The FBI initiative group requested clarifications on the current case from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Justice Minister and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland, and British Home Secretary Priti Sushil Patel. The initiative group considers it necessary to combat racism on the part of law enforcement officials and, if necessary, can provide legal and informational assistance to the family of the victim.
