Jury will not sit at inquest of asylum seeker who died on the Bibby Stockholm

By Ben Mitchell, Reporter4th March 2025News EnglandCustodial Care, Dorset, Immigration, News England, Refugees / Asylum, Serious / Significant Case Review / Inquest, South West

A coroner has ruled that the full inquest into the death of a 27-year-old Albanian man on board the Bibby Stockholm will be heard without a jury because the public interest in the case had “diminished” since the barge was no longer being used to house asylum seekers.

Leonard Farruku was found unresponsive on board the accommodation vessel at Portland Port, Dorset, on December 12 2023.

When the inquest was opened in December 2023, Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin heard that a post-mortem examination found the 27-year-old had died from “compression of the neck” caused by “suspension by ligature” and that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Ms Griffin said during a pre-inquest review that she had decided that a jury would not be required for the full inquest as the “public interest had diminished because the barge is no longer being operated”.

She added: “I am satisfied Mr Farruku was not detained at the time of his death so there is no mandatory reason for me to hold this inquest with a jury.”

The coroner also said that the inquest would not cover Article 2 of the Human Rights Act, which states that a person’s right to life is protected by law, but she would reconsider this at the conclusion of the case.

Ms Griffin explained that as well as the “immediate circumstances” of Mr Farruku’s death, the scope of the inquest would cover the decision-making process on how he was selected to be accommodated on the Bibby Stockholm (pictured) and how this was communicated to him.

She said that a statement was being sought from the Home Office case worker who made the “suitability decision” regarding Mr Farruku’s placement.

The coroner said that the inquest would also look at Mr Farruku’s mental health during and prior to his move to the barge and “any deterioration” as well as what support and safeguarding measures were in place.

Ms Griffin turned down an application for an expert witness to give evidence on the mental health condition of Mr Farruku as he had not been seen by a GP or a mental health professional.

She said: “There would not be sufficient probative value in seeking an expert opinion in this particular case to assist me.”

Ms Griffin said that the inquest would look at Mr Farruku’s previous accommodation at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Devon.

The coroner ruled that CCTV and body-worn video would not be produced as evidence as it was “not relevant”.

Ms Griffin adjourned the hearing for a further pre-inquest review to be held on June 17 with the full hearing set to start on September 15.

Former Conservative home secretary James Cleverly previously said that Mr Farruku’s sudden death would be “fully” investigated.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Mr Farruku paid 4,000 euro (£3,400) to cross the English Channel in a small boat to arrive in the country.

Mr Farruku’s sister, Jola Dushku, 33, who lives in Lombardy in Italy, told the newspaper: “When I spoke with him last time, he told me that the conditions in that boat were not bad but they were treated by the guards like animals.”

Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at Freedom from Torture, said in a statement: “We hope this inquest will explain why a talented and hopeful young man died while in the care of the Home Office, and will help ensure that no more lives are lost in pursuit of an anti-refugee agenda.

“The men, women, and children coming to this country seeking sanctuary deserve to be housed in safe and dignified community-based housing, where they have the chance to recover and rebuild their lives.”

The Bibby Stockholm barge was scrapped by the Labour Party after it came to power and the final residents left the vessel at the end of last year before it later sailed from Portland.