FAMILIES of a man who died in police custody and a couple who died after a crash on the M9 are still waiting for dates to be set for fatal accident inquiries because a decision has yet to be taken on whether there will be criminal proceedings.
Sheku Bayoh, 31, died after being restrained by officers in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in May 2015. John Yuill, 28, and Lamara Bell, 25, lay undiscovered for three days after their car veered off the M9 in Stirling two months later, despite a sighting of their wrecked car being reported to police.
Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie raised the issue of fatal accident inquiries at Holyrood yesterday. Lord Advocate James Wolffe QC said dates cannot be set because investigations are still ongoing.
Rennie said: “It has been two and a half years since the death of Sheku Bayoh, John Yuill and Lamara Bell. That’s two and a half years the families, and the police officers, have been waiting for an inquiry and for answers, and I am genuinely concerned for their welfare.”
Wolffe replied: “The separate invest- igations by the Crown into these two incidents are continuing under the direction of a senior advocate depute. While considerable progress has been made, further work requires to be completed before a fully informed decision can be made about potential criminal proceedings in each of these cases.
“That decision has to be taken before the timing of the fatal accident inquiry can be considered.”
Wolffe said the Crown Office kept in touch with the families of those who had died and met relatives of the M9 crash victims last month.
He said both cases are complex and that he had to ensure the investigations were undertaken “thoroughly”.
A fatal accident inquiry is due to take place into Bayoh’s death regardless of whether there are criminal proceedings.
His relatives intend to launch a civil action against Police Scotland.
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