Recently unearthed CCTV recordings show the moments before a deadly restraint incident, casting doubt on the narrative provided by prison authorities. BBC News secured the footage after a legal battle with Scottish ministers, who had previously withheld the recordings related to the death of Allan Marshall.
Prison guards had earlier alleged that the 30-year-old inmate, who was held on remand for minor offenses, had destroyed his cell and smeared himself with excrement. However, the video reveals Marshall walking through the prison for four minutes in a calm, orderly fashion while being lightly escorted by three officers. He appears to be shirtless but clean, showing no signs of the erratic or aggressive behavior described by staff.
Marshall died in 2015, four days after being pinned face down by up to 17 prison officers at HMP Edinburgh. While the restraint incident itself was previously public, this newly released sequence covers the time spent moving him toward the facility’s shower area. Experts in criminology and Marshall’s family have noted that his demeanor does not match the justifications given for the intense force used later that morning.
The Scottish Prison Service has since offered an apology, acknowledging the death was unlawful and that the force applied was excessive. Legal proceedings regarding compensation for the family remain ongoing, as the state continues to face scrutiny over the initial investigations and the immunity previously granted to the officers involved.