‘If those responsible had acted as they should have, our beloved Tyrique would still be here with us today’
Tyrique Jemaa(Image: Submitted)
A coroner has slammed ‘missed opportunities’ on the part of Greater Manchester Police and a law firm solicitor he said were a ‘clear causative connection’ to the tragic death of a much-loved 15 year-old boy.
Talented footballer Tyrique Jemma was arrested on June 30, 2023, and released on bail subject to a number of conditions. One of them prevented him from using mobile phones. His bail ran out on October 1 after three months, but neither Tyrique or his family were told that.
An inquest into his death at Manchester Coroner’s Court heard they thought he was still subject to the conditions after he was found at his school, Dixons Brooklands Academy in Wythenshawe, with a mobile phone on December 20 of that year. It was his brother’s phone and wasn’t switched on.
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Tragically, Tyrique took his own life at his home later that evening.
His mum, speaking after the inquest, said ‘so many chances to do the right thing were missed’. “If those responsible had acted as they should have, our beloved Tyrique would still be here with us today,” she added.
The inquest heard GMP told Tuckers solicitors, which represented Tyrique when he was arrested, on November 15, more than a month after his bail had elapsed, but the law firm didn’t tell the family subsequently.
GMP(Image: Manchester Evening News)
In a ruling on Monday, coroner Zak Golombeck said Tyrique ‘would likely have been worried about the consequences of being found with the mobile phone’ and it would have brought the issue to the ‘forefront of his mind’. In his conclusion, he said there was ‘a clear causative connection’ between the ‘missed opportunities’ to notify Tyrique that he was no longer on bail to him ‘taking the actions that he did’ – and he called for a full investigation to be launched by the professional body regulating solicitors.
The coroner said Tyrique’s school was made aware of the arrest and bail conditions. He was searched before every school day – a ‘full person and bag check’.
Mr Golombeck said there were no issues or concerns about ‘non compliance’ up until December 20. There were no prior concerns about Tyrique’s mental health either. The coroner said Tyrique and his mother were told the bail conditions would remain in place for three months up to and including October 1 ‘subject to a decision as to whether they should be extended’.
The police constable in charge of Tyrique’s case, PC Thomas Milroy, emailed his ‘supervisor’, an Inspector, on September 29 with the ‘appropriate paperwork to formally apply for an extension to the bail conditions’. A reminder email was then sent to the PC and Inspector by a third officer on October 2 to let them know that the bail was ‘overdue’.
Tyrique and his mum attended a police station on October 1 as requested. They were told that if he had been rebailed, they should attend again in three months’ time. The coroner said it was ‘perfectly understandable’ that they believed Tyrique had been re-bailed, although they weren’t specifically told that. He said the PC should have updated the family and the legal representative on receipt of the ‘chaser’ email on October 2.
A coroner has delivered his ruling(Image: MEN Media)
Mr Golombeck said: “This was a serious administrative failure by GMP and one that should have been realised and admitted on or around October 2, 2023.”
The officer emailed the solicitor from Tuckers, Rebbeca Strong, on November 15 to inform her that Tyrique was being ‘released under investigation’ because the investigation would likely last for a long time and it ‘would not be fair’ to keep extending the bail.
But the coroner said the ‘rationale’ for the email was ‘misleading and dishonest’. He said it wasn’t clear whether the officer was ‘covering up for himself’ or the Inspector, or both. “There is no transparency of GMP officers at this stage that they failed to extend the bail, and therefore Tyrique was no longer subject to the bail conditions,” said the coroner.
The coroner said Ms Strong didn’t produce a ‘file note’ of the development. She said she ‘assumed’ the PC would inform Tyrique’s mother. Mr Golombeck said in his judgement, the solicitor ‘failed in her duty to properly represent Tyrique’. “This was a significant development for a 15 year-old boy,” he said.
Mr Golombeck said it was, in his judgement, ‘sufficient’ for the PC to inform the solicitor ‘with the expectation’ she would alert the family.
On the day of his death, the coroner said Tyrique and his sister were ‘making light of’ the situation with the phone at school. The inquest heard there were no concerns for him on the part of his family and he had been playing with a friend just hours before. He left two notes signed by him, one saying ”fake smiles every day was already killing me’.
Tyrique’s family have spoken out after the inquest(Image: Submitted)
Mr Golombeck ruled Tyrique and his family should have been told he wasn’t subject to bail anymore.
He said he found the ‘missed opportunities’ by GMP and Ms Strong ‘contributed to Tyrique’s death’. “Had he and his school become aware the bail conditions were no longer in place, then Tyrique having his brother’s phone would not have been such a significant issue for Tyrique, his family or the school,” said Mr Golombeck. “I am satisfied Tyrique probably intended to take his own life.”
He recorded a conclusion of suicide, which also referenced the ‘missed opportunities’.
“They are two separate opportunities over a period of six weeks to inform Tyrique that whilst he remained under police investigation, the significant restrictions placed on his life had been paused,” he added.
Mr Golombeck said he would give Tuckers two weeks to refer what happened to the legal industry regulator to investigate, or he would refer the case to the relevant body himself.
He said Tyrique was an ‘excellent footballer with no doubt a magical left foot’. “A joke and a prankster,” he said. “It is clear to me that he is a much-loved and much-missed member of the family.”
Speaking after the inquest, Sue-Ellen Spence, Tyrique’s mum, said: “These conclusions are bittersweet. Hearing the coroner’s thorough findings brings us some comfort, but it is heart-breaking to know that the failings of both Greater Manchester Police and Tyrique’s legal representative played a part in his death.
“We are left devastated by the knowledge that so many chances to do the right thing were missed. If those responsible had acted as they should have, our beloved Tyrique would still be here with us today.”
The Manchester Evening News has contacted GMP and Tuckers for comment.
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Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org, write to Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS (no more information needed) and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.
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Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org
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