
source: BBC News
published: 22 January 2016
A man who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest had been restrained by police for over 20 minutes, a court has heard.
Thomas Orchard, 32, who had paranoid schizophrenia, was handcuffed, held down and had a large fabric webbing belt put across his face, jurors heard. He died in hospital seven days later.
Custody Sergeant Jan Kingshott, 44, and civilian detention officers Simon Tansley, 38, and Michael Marsden, 55, each deny two charges of manslaughter at Bristol Crown Court.
Mr Orchard was freed from the restraints and, making little or no movement, left lying face down on a mattress in his cell at Heavitree Road police station in Exeter, Devon, the trial was told.