An inquest has now been formally opened into the death of 24-year-old Mohamud Mohamed Hassan who died after spending the previous night in police custody in Cardiff.
This death in Cardiff prompted days of protests outside of Cardiff Bay police station and is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the police watchdog.
It was around 8.30am Saturday January 9th when Mr Hassan was released without charge after he was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace . He was found dead shortly after 10.30pm that night at a property in Newport Road, Roath, Cardiff.
An inquest into his death was opened at Pontypridd Coroners’ Court opened the inquest into his death on Thursday. Mr Hassan was with a friend at a flat in Newport Road on January 9 and was last seen alive at around 5pm, the hearing was told.
London-born Mr Hassan was found unconscious at around 10.30pm at which point the emergency services were called.
A post-mortem examination was carried out on January 12 and gave a provisional cause of death as unascertained.
The inquest also heard that in the most recent report doctors were unable to give a medical cause of death.
Coroner Graeme Hughes told the hearing “some matters that have arisen” following the report and a “wider screen” of blood and urine samples will be carried out.
The ongoing police watchdog investigation is likely to take at least six months, the inquest heard, with a representative for the IOPC telling the hearing they were “hopeful” the process will be complete within that timeframe. They added that some delays have been due to “some issues” with obtaining CCTV.
Mr Hughes said his officers will now continue to liaise with the IOPC ahead of their initial report while he also offered his “deepest condolences” to Mr Hassan’s family and friends.
A pre-inquest review was listed for December 3 but Michael Mansfield QC, representing the Hassan family, asked for an “update hearing” before then to help “focus the minds” of all those involved.
He proposed a date in September and said the “family are extremely concerned to access the truth”.
Mr Hughes made a direction that by mid-August IOPC will update his office with a written progress report and a likely completion date.
Representatives of the family of Mr Hassan have been calling for documents about his final hours to be made available to them as well as police body-worn camera footage of his arrest in Cardiff on Friday, January 8, and other footage of his arrest and his time in custody overnight in Cardiff Bay Police station.
Last month, over three consecutive days, hundreds of people protested outside Cardiff Bay police station demanding information regarding the lead up to Mr Hussains death
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) revealed that 46 officers are being questioned on the details surrounding his death.