Family of man, 27, who died after being hit by unmarked police car claim they’re warned it could take YEARS to get answers from force about the night he died
- Arthur Holscher-Ermert died after he was hit by unmarked BMW in Peacehaven
The heartbroken family of a man who died after being hit by an unmarked police car claim they have been warned it could take years for them to get the answers surrounding his death.
Arthur Holscher-Ermert died after he was hit by unmarked BMW in Peacehaven, East Sussex in May last year.
Officers had been pursuit of the 27-year-old when he abandoned his car and fled on foot. A dashcam showed the moment the police BMW hit Arthur as he tried to run across a road.
His father, Professor Jens Holscher, says that he believes Sussex Police will never apologise for trying to handcuff his son as he lay dying on the road, in a pool of his own blood and crying out for help. He also says he has been informed that it could be years before there is any resolution, despite an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation.
The family still do not have a post-mortem report on their son’s passing either.
Arthur Holscher-Ermert (left) with his German-born father Professor Jens Holscher (right)
Arthur died after he was hit by an unmarked black BMW vehicle in Peacehaven in May last year
The final minutes of the amateur footballer’s life were filmed by shocked members of the public who witnessed the police car cross the white lines to him in Peacehaven. Dashcam video shows the black BMW drive into the path of oncoming traffic before hitting Arthur walks across the road.
The police driver has not been arrested or suspended and has been on restricted duties since the incident on April 30 last year.
Today marks the first anniversary of Arthur’s passing, as his brother Karl will lay flowers at the scene of the incident.
But the 27-year-old’s father says that the police force has not apologised and they have no idea when or if charges will ever be brought against the driver. He has also shockingly been told that it could take years before there is any resolution.
And the family still have no idea if anybody will ever face any criminal charges.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct have concluded their investigation and are waiting for collision report before making a decision on handing the case to the CPS for criminal prosecution.
The German-born lecturer added that they still do not have a final Post Mortem report. The Bournemouth University economics continued to say that the family are very frustrated by the slow progress of the investigation into Arthur’s death, explaining: ‘It’s been a year and not much has happened.
‘It is annoying to be given a long term perspective of years. It’s horrifying and hard to stomach, but that’s the indication I’ve got. It could be years before it comes to trial, this is unbelievable I thought. It’s not even certain there will be a trial. It’s going on but slowly, slowly, slowly.
Footage appears to show a police car hitting Arthur as he tried to run across a road
‘It is disappointing. They could have given us a proper timeline. That’s something one would expect, I would think. After one year we don’t have a timeline and I think that is quite essential.’
Prof Holscher said he has been told the officer who was driving the car which hit his son has been interviewed by investigators twice. He said: ‘But there is nothing coming out of these interviews. And it’s not even clear whether charges will be pressed.
‘I’m thinking it must happen, but that is my opinion. If it is shared by the authorities, I don’t know.’
The IOPC said their investigation is all but over.
And new video footage gathered by them has been shown to the family, as Prof Holscher added: ‘We saw some new footage with audio but it didn’t tell us anything we didn’t know before. We have very good lawyers who specialise in taking action against the police but even they are saying it takes as long as it takes and we can not speed it up.
‘It’s frustrating, but these are the rules of the game and we won’t be able to change those. We have to live with it. If that’s the way things go, I have to accept it.’
The family have not received an apology from Sussex Police which is still causing them pain, Prof Holscher said.
‘I got through that,’ he said, adding: ‘I asked a friend who is a former policeman and he said they will not apologise, they will not say sorry because they see that as an admission of guilt and that’s why it’s not coming forward.
‘It still hurts but I can’t do much about it. It’s something you would expect.’
The economics lecturer added that has had heart problems since his son’s passing.
A spokesman for the IOPC said they are in the process of making a decision on whether to refer the matter to the CPS.
Sussex Police said the officer has not undertaken operation duties since the incident and remains on restricted duties.
In a statement, the force said: ‘Our thoughts continue to be with Arthur’s family and friends at this difficult time.
‘We have provided every assistance to the IOPC, who have independence in regard to the investigation and who remain in contact with the family.
‘We now await the IOPC’s decision.’
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