Joy GardnerJoy Gardner
"On the morning of the 28th of July 1993, Joy Angela Gardner died after
being gagged and restrained with a body belt at her home, while being served
with a deportation order which she was still appealing against. She died leaving
her young son Graeme. Joy's death was the subject of a Police Complaints Authority
investigation and three police officers from Scotland Yard's deportation squad,
SO1(3), were charged with manslaughter. On the 14th June 1995 the three officers
were acquitted of the charges after a trial at the Old Bailey and the Metropolitan
Police Service decided that no disciplinary action should be taken against the
officers. An inquest into Joy's death has never taken place.
Many people are deeply disappointed with this result. A mother is dead, leaving behind a child and a large family grieving both in Britain and in Jamaica. Justice has been denied to Joy and also to the millions of people of this country who were appalled and horrified by the manner in which she was killed. We are astounded at the brutal deportation methods used by the immigration service that were exposed during the trial, including the use of body belt and straps and, in Joy's case, 13 feet of tape which was wrapped around her head. We maintain that this was the cause of Joy's death.
After four years, still no one has been found guilty of killing Joy Gardner. The trial did little but assassinate Joy's character and try to justify the horrific way in which she was killed. We are dissatisfied with the result and demand a full and independent public inquiry from this government to look into Joy's death, as well as other black deaths in custody, so that the truth emerges about how they were killed, by whom and why. These are basic questions which the people of this country have a right to know. We are currently taking a legal action against the Metropolitan Police. The Government needs to be made aware that racist killings, including those at the hands of the police and the immigration service are taken very seriously by all right thinking people. The family and friends of Joy have set up the Joy Gardner Memorial Campaign to demand justice and to ensure that there will be no more victims either of police violence or the Government's racist immigration controls. Joy's death, and those of many others, are fundamental breaches of human rights and we intend to challenge them at the highest level." The Joy Gardner Memorial Campaign
 |
 |
 |
|
We need financial support to continue the campaigning work and to pursue legal challenges. Donations can be paid directly into any TSB Bank quoting the following details:
Sort code: 779168 Account Number: 02425450
Cheques should be made payable to: Joy Gardner Memorial Fund
Volunteers are needed for the campaign. If you wish to get more information you can contact us as follows:
P0 BOX 9501, LONDON, N17 6EG TEL: 0370432439