Hundreds of people packed a hall in Brixton to listen to the family of a reggae star who died during a police raid and to find out of how an independent investigation will be conducted.

Relatives of David Emmanuel - known as Smiley Culture - race equality and social justice campaigner Lee Jasper and Commissioner Mike Franklin, of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), held the meeting at Lambeth Assembly Hall last night.

Mr Emmanuel, who grew up in Tulse Hill, died during a police raid on his home in Warlingham on Tuesday, Mach 15.

The angry crowd listened intently to Mr Franklin, who gave some details of the IPCC investigation into the Mr Emmanuel’s death, booing at every mention of police officers and shouting “murderers”.

Dozens were left outside the packed Assembly Hall, shouting through the open doors as there was no more room inside.

The IPCC launched an investigation after the 48-year-old died of a single stab wound to the heart.

Mr Franklin said: “The community demands the truth and I’m seeking the truth, but I need your support in this process. I need your help to see it through to the end. I need to ensure that justice is done for Smiley Culture.

“I long for peace and I know we have to have justice before we can have it.”

He said the lack of independent witnesses was a hurdle to the IPCC’s investigation, that could only be overcome by extensive forensic examination.

Mr Franklin said: “The only other people there [other than Mr Emmanuel] were four Metropolitan Police officers. There were no independent witnesses. The only accounts of what happened are those of four Metropolitan Police officers.

“Anyone who has any experience of investigating deaths in police custody would know they would have a challenge facing their investigation.”

The popular reggae artist’s nephew, Merlin Emmanuel, gave an impassioned speech about his uncle and also spoke on behalf of the Emmanuel family, announcing the family have hired solicitors and a second coroner to carry out a second post mortem on Mr Emmanuel’s body.

Reggae artist Asha Senator, who went to Tulse Hill School and composed with Mr Emmanuel, sang part of the song he composed in his memory - and got the whole hall singing together.

Mr Jasper, who was chairing the meeting, urged people to join the Facebook group Campaigning for justice for Smiley, which already has more than 5,000 members and reminded people of the march that is due to take place on April 16, from Wandsworth Road to the Scotland Yard.

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