Police offered to take man ‘home’ ahead of tragedy on the M602, inquest jury told

Police offered to take a man 'home' after they were called to a flat following reports he was armed with a knife and refusing to leave, an inquest jury was told. The body-worn video footage of officers at the scene was played to the jury again on the second day of an inquest into the death of Benjamin Connor, 30. Mr Connor, the jury has already heard, ended up being taken by police to Cornbrook Metrolink[1] station in the early hours.

He died after he was hit by a car on the M602 motorway in Salford[2], around two miles away, almost three hours later after being seen walking into oncoming traffic. Tests showed alcohol and cannabis present in his urine and blood. Mr Connor's mother, Sharon Weir, made statements and penned a letter to Bolton[3] Coroner's Court ahead of the inquest, but has now sadly died.

In the letter, she hit out at GMP for 'dumping' the Wythenshawe-born father-of-three at the tram station,[4] saying he was in 'no fit state to be left alone'. She also said he had 'no money, phone or transport at Christmas[5]' and questioned why he wasn't 'locked up'. Officers were called to the flat in Rusholme[6] of a man Mr Connor met earlier on a night out in Manchester.

He went back there, together with another man, but police were called at 12.50am on December 28, 2021, after reports he had lashed out with a knife.

In the footage played to the jury, Mr Connor was asked where he was staying. He is heard telling the officers he was staying at an address in Higher Blackley[7]. One officer asks him: "Shall we take you there?"

"We are going to give you a lift home, or to that address you gave us," added the officer. Handcuffed at this point, Mr Connor is heard to say: "Take the cuffs off me and I will walk home." Two officers who entered the flat first and searched Mr Connor gave evidence on Tuesday.

Both said they could tell Mr Connor had been drinking, but that he wasn't 'paralytic'. Thomas Pamphlett, then a response PC but now a DC, said officers were initially called to reports of a 'male with a knife refusing to leave'. No knife was ever found and no one was injured, the jury was told.

Mr Connor was then 'detained for a search' and put in handcuffs. DC Pamphlett said Mr Connor's 'demeanour was not the most pleasant towards us' and described him as being 'up and down', but 'engaging'. He agreed Mr Connor was not formerly told that he was under arrest, but said he assumed that he was under arrest and was 'being removed from the property' for breach of the peace. "I assumed that would be the course of action, that he would be removed and taken to whatever address he provided," said the officer in evidence.

The jury heard on Monday Mr Connor was put into the back of a police van then taken to the Metrolink station.

At around 2.40am, he was hit by a car travelling at 60mph on the eastbound M602, near Regent Road roundabout, and died in hospital later. DC Pamphlett said he took no active part in discussions about how Mr Connor was going to be dealt with. He said anyone arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace can be 'de-arrested' later once removed from a scene, because there is no longer a breach then.

DC Pamphlett went on to say he had no concerns about Mr Connor's mental health, or concerns about his ability to look after himself. PC Michael Pursey, who handcuffed him, also said he had no concerns over Mr Connor's mental health and said he was able to comply with instructions. He said he searched him and found cigarettes, tobacco and a lighter, but no mobile phone, wallet or keys.

PC Pursey said he then spoke to the owner of the flat, saying the body-worn footage showed he 'did not support a prosecution'. "I was under the impression that he [Mr Connor] was going to be arrested for breach of the peace and removed from the address," said the officer. "After that, I remember him being removed from the address. I was not involved in taking him out of the premises."

He said he believed at the time that a crime would be recorded and investigated further.

The inquest is due to continue on Wednesday, with further police officers due to give evidence.

• Proceeding.

References

1. ^ Metrolink (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ Salford (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Bolton (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ she hit out at GMP for 'dumping' the Wythenshawe-born father-of-three at the tram station, (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ Christmas (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ Rusholme (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
7. ^ Blackley (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)