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John Simpson

John Simpson

Home Affairs Editor at The Observer; award-winning crime journalist specializing in organized crime and policing

Jun 4, 2026

AdaHOST
1:56
So John, could you just give us a quick recap of what's happened, um, this week on this case?
2:02
So on Monday, this video, w- uh, body cam footage from one of the officers at the scene where Henry was lying prone was released and it, and it's, uh, deeply affecting.
2:16
Uh, there's particularly one moment, sort of the last thing you hear him say is, "Brother, I can't breathe," to the officer who is handcuffing him, who's already said, it said in response to "I've been stabbed," this officer's already said, "I don't think you have, mate." It's very, very clear.
2:34
The p- police officer's first duty is the preservation of life.
2:39
It's, you know, it's the thing that they are taught.
2:42
Um, so it's the, it's a massive dereliction of duty.
2:46
Um, it's been latched onto, pushed on social media by people who w- want to, uh, highlight the racial element of this and, and it shouldn't be ignored that you also hear in the video the killer saying his turban has been ripped off his head, um, and, and clearly framing what's happened as a racist attack, and that was heard in court and dismissed, you know.

10 MINS LATER

AdaHOST
13:38
And if we talk about shortcomings on both sides, both politically and from the police's point of view, what kind of things do you expect will come out of this investigation into police conduct?

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