The “heartbroken” family of a man who died in police custody say they will “not rest until they have the truth” about his death.
Sheku Bayoh, 31, was detained following an incident in Kirkcaldy on May 3.
His family paid tributes to him at a press conference in Edinburgh today that was later overshadowed by a row between the family’s lawyer Aamer Anwar and the Scottish Police Federation.
Mr Bayoh’s partner Collette Bell, mother to his four-month-old son, described him as her “soulmate and best friend”.
“He was kind, caring and affectionate, and had so many aspirations,” she said.
“He was working hard to make a better future for our family and we had so much to look forward to.
“I need answers as to why he was taken from me.”
Speaking at a media conference in Edinburgh, she added: “I want to know the whole truth of the circumstances surrounding his death so that one day I can explain to my son Isaac Bayoh why he has had to grow up without his daddy.”
Mr Bayoh’s sister Kadi Johnson, who was joined by his mother and another of his three sisters at the conference, talked about how he had moved to the UK when he was 11 years old and then to Scotland aged 17.
Mr Bayoh, who worked for British Gas, was father to four-month old Isaac and Tyler, his three-year-old son by a previous partner.
Mrs Johnson said Mr Bayoh, was a “hard working father” who lived for his two boys and was a “kind man at the heart of his community”.
“At this point in time our family is heartbroken, not able to grieve; his body is still in a mortuary all alone,” she said.
“Even once we have buried my baby brother we will not be able to grieve until we know the truth.”
Mrs Johnson added: “Several versions of events were given to my family for several hours after his death until finally we were finally told he had died in police custody in early evening.
“All we are asking for is the truth of what actually happened to my brother Sheku on morning of May 3.
“We all have grave concerns at the role of Police Scotland and are asking the Lord Advocate and the PIRC to help us get the truth.”
PIRC said a report on its findings will be submitted to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in due course.