Officers “poorly managed” the situation which led to the death of a man in police custody, but he did not die as a result of an “unlawful killing”, an inquest heard today.

Habib ‘Paps’ Ullah died after being restrained by five Thames Valley Police officers during a stop and search in Sharrow Vale, in High Wycombe, on July 3, 2008.

The 39-year-old died after a package of Class A drugs became lodged in his throat.

At the close of an inquest which ran into its fifth week today, the jury returned a misadventure conclusion with a narrative verdict.

The medical cause of death was cardiac dysrhythmia during restraint associated with cocaine toxicity and airway obstruction by a foreign body, with a secondary cause being myocardial fibrosis and coronary artery atherosclerosis.

‘Unlawful killing’ was an option available for jurors when reaching a verdict, as well as a conclusion of misadventure and narrative.

The inquest, which began on February, 2, was scheduled to last no longer than four weeks at Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court, in Beaconsfield.

However, due to the lengthy proceedings and jury deliberation, the inquest went into its fifth week today.

To read the full verdict, click here.