HOME OFFICE MEETS MOTHER OF RICHARD OKOROGHEYE (27.05.2021)

PRESS RELEASE

HOME SECRETARY PRITI PATEL MEETS WITH THE MOTHER OF RICHARD OKOROGHEYE

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has today met with our client Evidence Joel, the mother of Richard Okorogheye.

Richard Okorogheye, 19, went missing from his home in West London on 22 March 2021. Richard was a vulnerable adult with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease and had been shielding in line with government guidance.

Richard was reported missing by his mother on 23 March 2021. Richard’s body was found in a lake in Epping forest two weeks later on 5 April 2021. The family await the toxicology and post-mortem reports.

The Metropolitan police’s response to Richard’s disappearance is under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following a complaint by our client.

Evidence Joel, Richard’s mother, said: “My family and I are grateful to the Home Secretary for inviting us to meet with her today and for listening to our concerns about the Metropolitan police’s response to Richard’s disappearance and the ongoing investigation into his death. We trust that these concerns will be passed to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police, that lessons will be learned and that the police will conduct a full and fearless investigation which is not predicated on the assumption of suicide. We need to uncover the truth of what happened to Richard.”

Richard’s family are represented by Tolu Agbelusi and Tara Mulcair of Birnberg Peirce.

BIRNBERG PEIRCE
27 MAY 2021