Death of Samson Chukwu
Samson Chukwu | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1 May 2001 (aged 27) Valais, Switzerland |
| Cause of death | Asphyxiation |
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Samson Chukwu (also spelled Samsson) (died 1 May 2001) was a 27-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker detained in the Swiss canton of Valais in an attempt to deport him to Lagos, Nigeria via Kloten, Switzerland.[1] While detained in Granges, Valais at Crêtelongue Prison,[2] he was handcuffed lying on his stomach. A police officer rested his weight onto Chukwu's back leading to Chukwu's death by "postural asphyxiation".[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Before authorities were able to complete an autopsy, State Councilor Jean-René Fournier, responsible for security and institutions claimed that the cause of death was a heart attack.[9] The final autopsy results released in July 2001 confirmed asphyxiation as the cause of death.[10]
Chukwu's family filed a lawsuit against local police officials. A Valais court later dismissed the lawsuit citing officer ignorance of the detainment method's danger.[11] A doctor involved in attending to Chukwu received a suspended sentence for misdiagnosing Chukwu's breathing problems while he was detained and failing in his professional obligations. The doctor was also ordered to pay restitution to Chukwu's family.[12]
Amnesty International used the case to urge Switzerland to reduce their program of forced deportations.[2][13] The organization has also used Chukwu's death as evidence of a larger pattern of excessive force used by Swiss police,[11] and the event lead to police reform in the country.[14] Chukwu's death was the second case in two years of an asylum seeker being suffocated to death by Swiss authorities.[10]
While large scale public protests did not occur at the time, Chukwu's name has often been cited in subsequent Black Lives Matter protests in Switzerland.[15][16]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Murder of George Floyd, American man who died after police used a similar restraint technique, which sparked worldwide protests
- Asphyxia-related deaths by law enforcement in the United States
References
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