Officers on trial for death of Nigerian deportee

THE Public Prosecutor is seeking a three year prison sentence for each of the two National Police officers for ‘murder by negligence’ of Nigerian Osamuyi Akpitaye. They restrained the 23-year-old by handcuffing him and placing tape around his arms, legs and mouth after he “forcefully fought against” being deported from Madrid to Lagos in June 2007.

This prevented him from being able to breathe properly, which prompted a secondary cardiac arrest and asphyxia by suffocation and death.

In addition to imprisonment, the prosecution requested another three years of barring from working as officers.

The trial for these events is scheduled to be held today (Thursday) and tomorrow in the seventh section of the Court in Elche.