Two police officers sacked over murder probe into man killed by vigilante
PCs Leanne Winter and Helen Harris have been dismissed for failing the Iranian refugee 'when he was highly vulnerable'
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Two police officers have been fired over failing to protect a disabled refugee who was murdered by a misguided vigilante.
PC Leanne Winter and PC Helen Harris have been dismissed without notice by Avon & Somerset Constabulary over their conduct in the case of Bijan Ebrahimi - who had complained he was being threatened by a man who would go on to kill him three days later.
Mr Ebrahimi was punched and kicked to death and his body set on fire by neighbour Lee James outside his Bristol home in July 2013.
James was jailed for life in November 2013.
A police complaint was filed against Mr Ebrahimi in the days before his death alleging that he had been taking pictures of neighbourhood children.
Police arrested him and examined his camera and computer but found nothing suspicious. He was released without charge, but was not given any protection.
Mr Ebrahimi made several calls to the police in the 48 hours before his death, but they went unanswered.
It comes after another police officer and a community officer from the force were jailed over their role in the affair in February.
PC Kevin Duffy was sentenced to ten months and PCSO Andrew Passmore was given four months after being found guilty of misconduct in a public office.
PC Winter and PC Harris stood trial alongside them but were acquitted.
Bristol Crown Court heard how Duffy, who had had dealings with Mr Ebrahimi for six years before his death, considered him to be a timewaster and told a dispatcher he had “no intention of taking any calls from Bijan Ebrahimi… I will speak to him at my convenience”.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said their investigation into the police’s dealings with the 44-year-old Iranian refugee over a seven year period found that it had failed him when he was particularly vulnerable.
IPCC Commissioner, Jan Williams, said: “Today’s outcomes mark the conclusion of a series of misconduct proceedings against Avon & Somerset Constabulary officers and staff.
“We carried out a substantial and detailed investigation into the actions police took in the days prior to Mr Ebrahimi’s horrific murder, and their historic contact with him over a seven year period.
“The evidence we gathered has informed both the misconduct and earlier criminal proceedings. It was proven in crown court and at disciplinary hearings that some police officers and staff failed Mr Ebrahimi, in particular at a time when he was highly vulnerable.
"We have liaised regularly with Mr Ebrahimi’s family and the Constabulary throughout our investigation, and during the subsequent proceedings”.
The Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Police, Andy Marsh, said in a statement: “I must sincerely apologise once again to Bijan’s family. They have suffered and will continue to suffer deeply, and have endured their loss with great courage and dignity.
“We failed Bijan in his hour of need and I am unreservedly sorry for the pain and heartache his family have suffered in the years since”.