Allegation in Parliament about an off duty officer causing death is unfounded

Allegations in Parliament today implying the death of a Mr Michael Famodun was directly caused by an altercation with an off duty Police officer in Auckland in November 2004 are unfounded, the Auckland City Police Acting District Commander Brett England said this evening.

"As part of the investigation into this matter Police have received a medical report from an eminent consultant forensic pathologist which rejects any contention that there was a connection between Mr Famodun's death and any alleged assault.

"The report confirms the official cause of death as written on the death certificate as massive intracerebral haemorrhage with the underlying antecedent cause as Sickle Cell disease.

"The consultant forensic pathologist says that in other words the fatal intracerebral haemorrhage was a direct consequence of the chronic sickle cell disease, suffered from childhood.

Mr England said that the Police and Police Complaints Authority investigations into the matter were continuing but that given the gravity of the allegations made by the Right Honourable Winston Peters that it was necessary to publicly indicate the medical advice police had received.

"Police sympathise with the family of Mr Famodun over the death of their loved one but the facts do not back their assertion that there is a causal link between the 12 November incident and Mr Famodun's death," said Mr England.

Inspector England said that further comment on the facts of the case and investigation results would need to await completion of the process of inquiry.

Note: Inspector England is not available for interviews on this matter given the ongoing nature of the inquiry

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