Arrest death inquiry call

THE Police Complaints Authority yesterday rejected calls for an outside police investigation into an incident in which a handcuffed man fell 90ft to his death after being arrested.

At the opening of the inquest on Kevin Byrne, 23, who fell from a tower block in Croxteth, Merseyside, Roy Barter, the Merseyside coroner, and Rex Makin, the solicitor representing Mr Byrne's girlfriend, called for a senior officer from an outside force to investigate the incident.

The PCA confirmed it had approved the appointment of a Merseyside officer. Mr Barter said he would make a formal request to the PCA.