Memorial banner

We're creating a new collective banner as a powerful act of remembrance and resistance. Whether you've been directly affected or stand in solidarity, we want your input. Help shape this visual statement of justice and solidarity. Find out more and sign up https://www.inquest.org.uk/family-banner

Complete the memorialisation survey

INQUEST is gathering vital input on how families and communities want to remember those who have died due to state violence and neglect. Your responses will help inform meaningful, community-led memorial practices. It takes just a few minutes and could make a lasting impact.

If you or your community have experienced the death of a loved one as a result of state violence and/or neglect, please fill out the survey https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?

We believe in building collective memory and action – and we need your help to do it.

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Today, 23 July 2025, Chris Kaba should have been celebrating his 27th birthday with his loved ones. Instead, he was killed by Metropolitan police officer Martyn Blake on 5 September 2022.

To honour Chris, we’re sharing a very special episode of Unlawful Killing.

Originally recorded back in 2023, hosts Lucy Brisbane and Lee Lawrence spoke to Chris’ father, Prosper Kaba, about Chris' life, the impact of his death, and his family’s ongoing fight for justice.

This episode was previously removed due to legal proceedings, but today — on Chris’ birthday — we are bringing it back.

We share this episode in memory of Chris, and in solidarity with his family and all those still seeking justice.

Find out more about the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign.

Unlawful Killing is produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. 

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.

This podcast is published by Aunt Nell.

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

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These inspiring banners are made up of different squares stitched together with each section representing individual stories.

The families talk about the different stories behind the stitch work, the people they commemorate and the positive experience that came out of working on the banners. 

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Susan talks about the heavy toll of state failures on her and her family and how art is both a tonic for grief and a tool for community campaigning. Susan commissioned a banner in memory of Azelle, in his favourite colour blue, to take along to United Friends and Families Campaign marches, which memorialise lost loved ones.

She tells Lucy and Lee about the banner — made by trade union and protest banner-making extraordinaire Ed Hall — and the impact it has on her and others when carrying it on the marches. 

Find out more about the United Friends and Families Campaign (UFFC) (https://uffcampaign.org/)

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These people were also poets, musicians, artists and writers. After digging out some incredible material from INQUEST’s archives, we’d like to remember these artists by sharing some of their work. 

As there’s so much in the archives, we only have enough time to talk about a few of the works, including art from Smiley Culture, Emily Hartley, Agnes McDonald, Matty Sheldrick, Jimmy Heather-Hayes, and Joe Black.

All these artists are from different parts of the country, different ages, making art in different decades and at different life stages but what unites these artistic voices is the fact that they’ve each died at the hands of the state.

'Police Officer', Smiley Culture © Fashion Records

Embalmed (w1b0's Alternative Method of Preservation) © Nexus 23

Transform (Beatprozessor's Dirty Bass Transform) © Nexus 23

Thanks to Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Bundey and Alfie Neill for their readings.

Find out more about the artists featured:

Smiley Culture – NTS Radio Page

Matty Sheldrick’s website - www.mattyzak.com

Joe Black’s Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/nexus23

Jim Heather-Hayes - https://history.inquest.org.uk/case-profiles/jim-heather-hayes/

Emily Hartley - https://history.inquest.org.uk/case-profiles/emily-hartley/

Agnes McDonald - https://www.inquest.org.uk/agnes-mcdonald-conclusion

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In this episode, Lucy speaks to Lee Jarman and Sarah Kadri, who are part of LUNG Theatre — a campaign-led charity which works with communities and bereaved families to develop verbatim productions as a vehicle to campaign for change.

Lee’s brother Kevin died a self-inflicted death at HMP Woodhill in 2013. Lee and Sarah speak about LUNG’s powerful movement piece on the people who have died at Woodhill and the significance of verbatim theatre in bringing protesting families together as well as reaching new audiences.

Find out more about LUNG theatre (https://www.lungtheatre.co.uk/)

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Lucy and Lee talk to Sandra Ruiz from the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission. Sandra speaks about the importance of collective community action and how that has helped relatives and survivors take ownership of the decision-making process in the ways Grenfell is memorialised, including the more organic methods of remembering those who died.

Find out more about the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission (https://www.grenfelltowermemorial.co.uk/)

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Lucy and Lee are back for a third series and while reflecting on series one and two, they look at how bereaved families have united in their campaigning and grief to continue collective journeys for justice. Campaign groups are formed, commemorations are erected, legacies are made, loved ones live on.

In this episode Lee speaks about his own experience with building the Cherry Groce Foundation — named in tribute to his mum who was paralysed and later died after being shot by a Met police officer in 1985 — which aims to make a difference to the lives of ordinary people who are faced with extraordinary challenges.  

Find out more about the Cherry Groce Foundation (https://www.cherrygroce.org/)

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Kevin Blowe, coordinator for NETPOL (The Network for Police Monitoring) is a longstanding campaigner against police violence, suppression of protest and deaths in custody.

In this episode, Kevin speaks about the myth of ‘police accountability’ and the importance of community response.

Lucy and Lee reflect on different forms of accountability and how communities have responded to police violence then and now.

Do we need reform or transformation?

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.

Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Find out more about NETPOL: https://netpol.org/

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Tommy’s sister Donna Mooney has been at the forefront of campaigning for change and challenging the harmful consequences of the IPP sentence, which was abolished back in 2012.

Lucy and Lee speak to Donna about her fight and how accountability for Tommy’s death can only come when all those still serving IPP sentences are resentenced and finally have a release date in sight.

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.

Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Find out more about UNGRIPP and their campaign against IPP: https://www.ungripp.com/

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We hear from Marcia about what drives her fight, the changes that have been achieved, and why there is no justice, there is just us.

Lee and Lucy continue to explore what justice means, within and beyond the law, and how there is beauty and hope in a world we cannot yet imagine.

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Lucy and Lee speak to Connor’s mum, Sara Ryan, about who Connor was and her family’s longstanding campaign for justice, within and beyond the law.  

Lee and Sara draw parallels between their experiences of caring for their loved ones in life, continuing that care in death through campaigning and finding strength in the communities that rose up to support them. 

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.  

Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell. 

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. 

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.  

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast 

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate 

Find out more about the Justice for Laughing Boy campaign: http://justiceforlb.org/  

Sara Ryan is a Patron of My Life My Choice: https://mylifemychoice.org.uk/ 

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Yet despite these changes, people continue to die preventable deaths at the hands of the state.

In this episode, Lucy and Lee delve back into our archive to look at what’s changed, how the state continues to defend itself, and why bereaved families are still having to fight for the truth.

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.

Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy and Lee are back and this time, they’re looking at what happens after someone has died at the hands of the state and how families are often left in the dark fighting for answers. 

Shot in 1985 by police in Brixton, Cherry Groce died 26 years later. In 2011, an inquest found that Cherry died as a result of the bullet lodged in her spine. Lee tells us what happened after his mum’s death, the inquest process and his families’ long journey to the truth. 

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim.  

Thanks for the continued support of Aunt Nell. 

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. 

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu.  

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast 

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate 

Find out more about the Cherry Groce Foundation 

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A critical inquest and multiple investigations later, and still his mother Melanie Leahy does not know the truth about what happened to Matthew.

Lucy speaks to Melanie about what Matthew meant to her, her relentless campaign for justice and why securing the first ever public inquiry into deaths in mental health services is so important.

Lucy and Lee reflect on campaigning, what drives families to fight, and the strength in learning from others who know your pain.

Learn more about the Essex mental health inquiry, officially known as The Lampard Inquiry, here.

Will Powell has been fighting for justice ever since his son Robbie died of Addison’s disease 32 years ago. Find out more here.

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mikey Powell, 38, and Jess Durdy, 27, both died whilst in mental health crisis. Two very different stories. Two decades apart. Through these two very different instances of state violence and neglect, Lucy and Lee look at just how far-reaching the scale of the problem is, and the communities it harms the most. 

We hear from Mikey’s cousin Tippah Napthali and Jess’s mum Moira Durdy about what mental health services in Britain are really like and what their deaths have meant to them and their families.  

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith. 

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. 

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu 

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast 

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, an inquest into his death found that ill treatment and dismissiveness of his disability by prison staff contributed to his death.

Lucy and Lee speak to Liridon’s sister Dita Saliuka, about what he meant to her, disability discrimination, and why prisons aren’t safe for anyone.

Dita and Lee draw parallels between their experiences of caring for their loved ones, grieving their deaths and finding the strength to continue the fight.

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lucy Brisbane and Lee Lawrence look at the children and young people who have died in prisons in the past, and how family led campaigns have led to vital changes which continue to save lives. 

Joseph Scholes, 16, and Jake Foxall, 19, both died self-inflicted deaths in young offenders' prisons, over a decade apart. Their mothers have been at the forefront of campaigns for change. 

We hear from Jake’s mother Maryann Walters about what prisons in the UK are really like and what it’s like having a son in prison. 

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith. 

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. 

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu 

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast 

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Lucy Brisbane and Lee Lawrence take you right back to one of the cases that led to INQUEST being set up to respond to these deaths: the killing of Blair Peach in 1979.

Just a few years later, Lee’s mother Cherry Groce was shot by Brixton police, sparking the 1985 Brixton uprisings.

This episode features Celia Stubbs, the partner of Blair Peach, founder member of INQUEST and a core participant in the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Decades on, the more recent fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba has brought the same issues back to the fore. Lucy and Lee will be exploring this more in episode two through an interview with Chris' dad, Prosper Kaba.

Lucy and Lee look at what connects these deaths and the ongoing struggles for justice.

***Celia's mention of the 'ANL' is in reference to the Anti-Nazi League that was set up in 1977 to oppose the rise of far-right groups in the UK***

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.

This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen.

Oral histories supported by OnTheRecord. Music by Dave Okumu

More information and sources of support: www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show by donating at: www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bereaved families are left fighting for answers, demanding justice, and campaigning for change. Since 1981, the charity INQUEST has been fighting alongside these families.

Unlawful Killing is a unique podcast series shining a light on state violence, death, grief and resistance.

In this introductory episode, Lucy Brisbane and Lee Lawrence begin their journey to understanding the deep rooted issues of state violence and neglect in Britain, and we hear from a few of the voices that refuse to be silenced.

The first full episodes are coming soon.

Unlawful Killing is made in partnership with INQUEST and Aunt Nell. Produced by Leila Hagmann and Naomi Oppenheim. Consultant Producers Tash Walker and Adam Zmith.

Oral histories created with the support of On the Record. This podcast is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hodge Jones & Allen. Music by Dave Okumu

www.inquest.org.uk/podcast

Support this show www.inquest.org.uk/donate

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.