Hundreds joined the long and sad funeral procession for Kirkcaldy man Sheku Bayoh who was finally laid to rest today, five weeks after his death.
Since Sheku, 31, died in police custody on May 3, his grieving family have made repeated pleas to find out the truth of what happened on that fateful morning.
Today his family, joined by friends and the supportive local community, walked silently beside Sheku on his final journey.Click here for more photosThe funeral cortege began its solemn procession from Hayfield Road, on the spot where he was restrained and lost consciousness, later to die in the town’s Victoria Hospital.
They walked to Kirkcaldy police station where they held a silent and peaceful protest over the nine police officers who failed to speak to the PIRC which is conducting the investigation into his death for more than a month.
The family’s lawyer Aamer Anwar said: “The family had never asked for anything unreasonable. They are simply asking for answers to what happened that morning.
“They refuse to be silenced, intimidated or bullied. They want justice for Sheku Bayoh.
“Without the truth there cannot be justice.”
Again he asked police to cooperate with the investigation.
Before the day started, the family asked anyone who wanted to cause trouble to stay away, asking for today to be a “peaceful and dignified farewell to their beloved Sheku”.
The cortege moved on to the Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre Mosque for prayers before taking Shek, as he was fondly known, to Dysart Muslim cemetery.
For further coverage, see Monday’s Courier.