Rome, 22 July (LaPresse) – The video showing Fakir tied up with brown stains from pepper spray “was in the family’s possession”. “Many people filmed other videos” but “it is the officers’ duty to free the person so that medical assistance can be provided, and this was not done. The procedures were carried out whilst poor Fakir – sadly now deceased – was still handcuffed and tied at the feet, and this is reminiscent of other similar tragedies in the past.” Lawyer Fabio Anselmo told LaPresse this in relation to a video reportedly showing part of what happened to Abderrahim Fakir, the 42-year-old who died on 19 July at Il Pilastro in Bologna. “What cannot be verified is what was reported on the news this evening: there was no scuffle, no need to separate anyone from anyone else. Poor Fakir was in a state of confusion and the others present simply wanted to help him. Was he moving erratically? Yes. Had he tried to hit a car by punching the air? Yes. Had he fallen? Yes. That is when the officers intervened; they did not need to separate anyone from anyone else. I challenge the authors of this account to produce the footage,” added the lawyer.
Fakir’s death: family’s lawyer: “Officers should have released him so he could receive medical assistance”
Rome, 22 July (LaPresse) – The video showing Fakir tied up with brown stains from pepper spray “was in the family’s possession”. “Many people filmed other videos” but “it is the officers’ duty to free the person so that medical assistance can be provided, and this was not done. The procedures were carried out whilst poor Fakir – sadly now deceased – was still handcuffed and tied at the feet, and this is reminiscent of other similar tragedies in the past.” Lawyer Fabio Anselmo told LaPresse this in relation to a video reportedly showing part of what happened to Abderrahim Fakir, the 42-year-old who died on 19 July at Il Pilastro in Bologna. “What cannot be verified is what was reported on the news this evening: there was no scuffle, no need to separate anyone from anyone else. Poor Fakir was in a state of confusion and the others present simply wanted to help him. Was he moving erratically? Yes. Had he tried to hit a car by punching the air? Yes. Had he fallen? Yes. That is when the officers intervened; they did not need to separate anyone from anyone else. I challenge the authors of this account to produce the footage,” added the lawyer.
