Family pledge to fight for answers on death

NORMAN RHODEN . . . still wants answers

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THE family of a former Oldham Roughyeds rugby league star who died after he was "excessively restrained" by police officers in Ibiza say their legal fight for answers will go on.

Luke Rhoden (25), who an inquest jury ruled had also suffered an "adverse reaction" to drugs, suffered a heart attack after he was pinned to the floor by Guardia Civil officers outside the Ibiza Rocks hotel in San Antonio during a stag party in 2014.

An inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard from witnesses who said he was violently beaten with batons by police.

A doctor who treated him also told the inquest how he begged the two officers involved to stop holding a baton over Luke's throat, saying they were "killing" him.

The inquest jury has now delivered a narrative conclusion after a three-day hearing.

They ruled that Luke, who played youth rugby for England and Wigan Warriors before joining Oldham in 2010, died after "asphyxiation caused by the excessive restraint methods adopted by the Guardia Civil and the adverse reaction to drugs".

Asked to reach conclusions about the manner in which the police dealt with him, the jury said that "excessive force" was used to restrain Luke, who had earlier climbed out of his hotel room and over a balcony canopy before deliberately dropping around two storeys down into a pool bar area.

Witnesses said he was paranoid and sweating as he ran around outside and believed that people were chasing him and "going to kill him".

The inquest heard traces of cocaine and ecstasy were found in his system.

Reports from Spain also said a bag of high-strength cocaine was found in his hotel room.

But Luke's angry family have hit out at the actions of the Spanish police, claiming there has been a "cover-up".

Coroner Kevin McLoughlin said Spanish police were contacted and were made aware that allegations would be made, but "chose not to attend".

'Excessive'

Greater Manchester Police also requested statements and reports, but heard nothing.

Luke's dad Norman Rhoden, from Ince in Wigan, said a legal fight would continue in Spain.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Rhoden said: "The jury has recognised the excessive force that the police used.

"I think that they wanted to say more but were directed as to what they could say.

"The police were to blame for my son's death. My view on the Spanish police in this matter is that they have been appalling. They have not interacted on any level. I think that there has been a cover-up.

"With the evidence that we have got from the inquest, we will be bringing a case in Spain against the Guardia Civil."

Detention

Mr Rhoden has flown out to Ibiza twice. He said he doesn't even know the names of the two police officers involved.

Video footage of Luke's detention in September 2014 was filmed by other holidaymakers and shown to the jury.

One passer-by is heard to shout: "Get off him. Get off him. You should not be doing that."

Another man also shouts: "You shouldn't be doing that. He's an English citizen. You are f****** mad." Their comments are directed at the police.

A pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination after Luke's body was flown home said there was not enough evidence on the balance of probability to reach a conclusion on cause of death.

The jury therefore recorded the medical cause of death as unascertained.

They also described Luke's drug and alcohol use in Ibiza at the time as "excessive" and described his behaviour as "hallucinogenic and erratic".

But Mr Rhoden said there were dozens of unanswered questions about the police's actions and their refusal to reveal reports or cooperate.

"This is not the end," he said. "The fight will go on."