Police Officers Charged Over Bijan Ebrahimi Death

Three police officers and a police community support officer have been charged in connection with the death of Bijan Ebrahimi in Bristol in July 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.

Mr Ebrahimi was murdered on 14 July 2013 because some of his neighbours wrongly believed he was a paedophile. Two men were later jailed in connection with his death; Lee James received a life sentence for murder and Stephen Norley received four years for assisting an offender.

A full file of evidence was submitted by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) in October 2014 following their investigation into the way police officers are alleged to have responded to events and to contact from Mr Ebrahimi during the days leading to his death.

Malcolm McHaffie, CPS Deputy Head of Special Crime, said: "PCs Kevin Duffy, Helen Harris and Leanne Winter, all of Avon & Somerset Constabulary, are to be charged with misconduct in public office for allegedly failing to respond to allegations and calls for help from Mr Ebrahimi.

"PCSO Andrew Passmore is to be charged with misconduct in public office for allegedly giving false information to the 999 operator that he was outside Mr Ebrahimi's home at an important time. He will also be charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly giving different accounts to the police murder investigation and the IPCC investigation.

"As part of our review of this case, we have also decided that there is insufficient evidence to bring charges of misconduct in public office against two other members of Avon & Somerset Constabulary staff – a police emergency call taker and an emergency call supervisor.

"The decision to prosecute was reached after careful consideration of the evidence and was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is sufficient evidence to give rise to a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest."

All four individuals will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court for a preliminary hearing on 14 January 2015.

(CD/JP)