Jury at prisoner inquest starts to hear evidence

The inquest into the death of prisoner Michael Davidson began in earnest today.

The jury of seven heard from a number of witnesses, including the police officers who initially arrested Mr Davidson for affray in the early hours of Sunday, March 11, 2012.

He died the following Tuesday while imprisoned at Jurby.

The police officers agreed upon the details of Mr Davidson’s arrest, but their evidence differed in relation to what happened whilst he was in the back of the marked police van.

PC Damien Cullivan claimed Mr Davidson was aggressively moving around and remained conscious throughout the journey to headquarters, whilst PC Kyle Sayers said he saw him bang his head on the side of the van and fall to the floor.

However, they agreed that when they arrived the 26-year-old appeared to be unconscious, and he was taken straight to Noble’s hospital.

The court heard how Mr Davidson, whilst in hospital, chanted racist and aggressive songs.

He also said he had been attacked by the police, and claimed one officer had tried to rape him.

The court heard from a Noble’s hospital doctor that at one stage Mr Davidson said the words ‘I hope I die in a cell so I can sue you all’.