A FAMILY have said farewell to a beloved "son, father, brother, partner and uncle" at the funeral of Sheku Bayoh as they also vowed to fight for answers surrounding his death in police custody.
Amid their grief the Bayoh family said they have also struggled to find out what happened as an investigation by a new police watchdog was criticised for being unable to question police involved until weeks after the incident.
A two-minute silence was held outside a police station for Mr Bayoh who died in custody last month.
Hundreds of people turned out in Kirkcaldy, Fife, to support the family of the 31-year-old gas engineer whose death is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (pirc) .
It was also claimed medical staff had to request that police to remove handcuffs and leg restraints when Mr Bayoh arrived at hospital after being detained.
Mr Bayoh's mother Aminata Bayoh, who travelled from Sierra Leone, had requested through family members here that her son's body was not subject to post mortem examination before she had a chance to see him.
Mr Anwar said this was not respected.
She said until they know what happened "he will never rest in peace, we will fight, I will never forget him".
"It took almost a month for them to say something.
"We want the truth, nothing but the truth."
Mr Bayoh's partner Collette Bell, mother of their five-month-old son Isaac, fought back tears as she read a poem that ended: "I promise not to stop until we have justice for you."
His best friend Zahid Saeed, himself recently suffering after his son Mikaeel Kular was killed by his mother Rosdeep, who had been said to have seen Mr Bayoh that night, was said to have felt under pressure during questioning by police.
Mr Anwar called on the public to support a change in the law to give the pirc more powers.
He said: "This campaign in the weeks ahead intends to approach the Scottish Government and the Lord Advocate asking for them to urgently change the law with immediate effect to enable the pirc to lawfully hold investigations with all available powers. "
He added: "This week the Bayoh family insist that the Scottish Government immediately seek cross party support for a change to the law making it mandatory for officers to provide operational statements on their return to station after a death in custody.
"That the fundamental flaw in the law that strips the powers of pirc in deaths in custody is unacceptable."
Mr Anwar said: "We understand that four police officers reached there first and engaged with Sheku.
"A struggle took place, the police woman talked about by the police federation was part of this group."
Claire Baker, Fife Labour MSP, also addressed the gathering following the service.
She said: "I am here for the same reason as all of you, to support the family and to find out answers to what happened."
Professor Peter Watson, the lawyer who represents the officers involved said: "Everyone acknowledges that this is an extremely serious incident and requires investigation.
"The police officers involved, including the female officer who was attacked, have been happy to cooperate from the outset but it was the responsibility of pirc to declare the officers' status and that is a basic legal requirement. This was officially confirmed on June 2."
About 300 took part in the funeral procession from the town's Hayfield Road, where police were called to an incident involving Mr Bayoh on May 3 and where dozens of floral tributes have now been laid.
Members of the community joined the father-of-two's relatives and friends on a walk to Kirkcaldy police station.
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