UPDATE

The inquest has been scheduled for Monday 20 May at Poplar Coroners Court before Senior Coroner for Inner North London Mary Hassell. It is listed for 1-2 days, which we think will not be enough to explore the key issues.

Having recently received a large amount of documentation through the coroner, we are extremely concerned about three aspects of the circumstances surrounding Lamar’s death, all of which suggest there is an arguable breach of Lamar’s human right to life: 

(1) A police officer responded to a call on the next road to the party less than an hour before the attack which led to Lamar’s death. Evidence in the criminal trial of Lamar’s killer was that at that time there was a loud party involving over 100 people on a residential street, including fighting and drugs. The police officer says that he walked past the street where, a few houses away, the party was taking place, but saw and heard nothing - it is important that we explore how this could have happened and whether the officer acted appropriately.

(2) When four police officers attended the scene after Lamar was stabbed at least three of the officers focussed on restraining Lamar’s friend who had been assisting him rather than attending to Lamar. This was during the important few minutes after he had been stabbed and was bleeding profusely. This decision making need to be explored.

(3) A decision was taken - it is not clear by whom - to move Lamar, rather than treat him at the scene, despise him having been stabbed four times including in the back and losing a significant of blood. The decision making around this needs to be properly explored. 

We are also very concerned that there has been no pre-inquest review, as is common in inquests such as this. We think that relevant evidence from the criminal trial of Lamar’s killer needs to be in front of the coroner and we are making urgent representations to the coroner about this. 

In order ensure that Lamar’s death is properly investigated, and lessons learned for the future to prevent similar deaths, we need expert lawyers to assist.