THE trial began this week to hear the case of a police custody sergeant and two detention officers who are accused of killing a schizophrenic church caretaker who collapsed while in police custody.

Sergeant Jan Kingshott (44), denies the manslaughter of Thomas Orchard (32), formerly of Crediton, who had been arrested in Exeter.

Civilian detention officers Simon Tansley (38) and Michael Marsden (55), deny the same offence.

All three, who also deny unlawfully killing Mr Orchard by gross negligence, are appearing at Bristol Crown Court.

Thomas Orchard died on October 10, 2012 after being found unresponsive in a cell at Exeter’s Heavitree Road Police Station on October 3.

Mr Orchard had worked as caretaker at St Thomas Church in Exeter and was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital but failed to recover, dying a week later.

Mr Orchard had been arrested in Exeter city centre on suspicion of a public order offence.

The three defendants face charges that allege that on October 10, 2012, they carried out an act or series of acts which unlawfully killed Mr Orchard.

The second charge alleges that on the same day, the Devon and Cornwall officers unlawfully killed Mr Orchard by gross negligence.

The jury was sworn in for the case on January 12.

In 2014, after a long fight, members of the Orchard family, who come from Crediton, were granted permission to watch CCTV footage from inside the custody suite at Heavitree Road Police Station.

It was not until after his post mortem examination two weeks later, where the family had an independent witness, that they discovered the actions of police officers may have been a contributory factor.

Alan Quick