A misconduct hearing is underway for two Metropolitan Police officers, Pc Elizabeth McAleenan and Pc Danielle Barnes, who are facing accusations related to the death of Kevin Clarke, a 35-year-old relapsing paranoid schizophrenic, who died in custody at Lewisham Hospital in 2018. Clarke's death followed an incident in the Polsted Road area of Catford, south-east London, where police restrained him after he was found behaving erratically.

During the hearing, Pc McAleenan testified that Clarke appeared 'out of breath' during the restraint.

However, she denied hearing Clarke voice distress by saying 'I can't breathe,' despite evidence from an inquest which concluded that the use of restraints turned the situation into a 'medical emergency' and contributed to Clarke's death.

Body-worn camera footage presented during the inquest revealed the chaotic nature of the scene, with many officers' radios in operation, which McAleenan cited as a reason it was difficult to discern what Clarke was saying.

Clarke was restrained by up to nine officers, placed in handcuffs and leg restraints, before losing consciousness as he was moved to an ambulance.

The inquest's findings, delivered on October 9, 2020, indicated it was 'highly likely' at least one officer heard Clarke's plea.

Both officers maintain they did not hear him make the statement, with Pc McAleenan noting she had watched footage of the incident up to 30 times without clarity on Clarke's exact words.

Amy Clarke, representing the Metropolitan Police, pressed Pc McAleenan during the hearing about being in close enough proximity to Clarke to have heard any distress signals he might have expressed.

Pc McAleenan reiterated her awareness of the risks associated with positional asphyxia but defended the efforts made by her and her colleagues to reposition Clarke to facilitate his breathing.

The hearing continues as the panel reviews the evidence, including how officers monitored Clarke’s condition and the implications of their restraint methods.