Four Border Force officers involved in the custody death of a father-of-two at Manchester Airport remain suspended from duty, a pre-inquest review hearing has heard. Karl Joyce, 27, was found unresponsive in a holding area after being arrested while going through security at Terminal 2 on February 19, 2025. He died later that day from cocaine toxicity at Wythenshawe Hospital.
The full inquest into his death has been delayed to begin on February 22, 2027, more than two years after the incident. The hearing, held at Manchester Coroner's Court on July 13, was attended by Mr Joyce's parents and sister, along with lawyers representing Border Force, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), Manchester Airport Group, and the four officers.
Officers Suspended Pending Disciplinary Review
The four officers—one woman and three men—have been suspended from their roles while an internal disciplinary review takes place. However, this review has been paused until the inquest concludes. During the hearing, it emerged that the officers have had difficulty accessing documents required to prepare for the inquest, including training protocols on managing suspected drug traffickers, due to their suspension.
Barrister Mr Simpson told the court that funding for the officers' legal representation had been approved by Border Force but was 'pending sign-off on a ministerial level at the Treasury'. Counsel Mr Smith, representing two of the officers, said he would 'pursue the propriety' of the officers learning this 'in open court'. Mr Simpson responded that Border Force would do 'whatever they can' to ensure the officers could access 'whatever was required'.
Inquest to Examine Omissions and Survivability
The full inquest, expected to last two weeks, will be heard in front of a jury. Evidence will include witness testimony, letters from the officers, a pen portrait of Mr Joyce by his family, and CCTV footage from the airport. The coroner, Zack Golombeck, also called for an additional expert witness alongside a forensic toxicologist to help establish whether 'an act of omission by Border Force officers' may have contributed to Mr Joyce's death.
Dr Alan Grayson, a consultant specialist in emergency medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary, will give evidence. 'The expert will have to consider at what point the emergency service should have been called,' the coroner said. Counsel Nathan Buckley, acting for the family, said the question of 'survivability' was 'critical' to establish 'at what point medical intervention would have assisted' Karl and if this could have begun 'sooner'.
Evidence and Legal Teams
The court heard that two hours of footage provided by Manchester Airport would be cut down and redacted for the full hearing to maintain security protocols. A further four clips showing Mr Joyce moving through custody at Terminal 2 and being held in a side room, which may show 'when he had the opportunity for ingestion', were also admitted.
The officers are set to have separate legal representation from Border Force, bringing the total number of legal teams expected for the full inquest to seven. The coroner advised the officers to attend court and familiarise themselves with the setting before proceedings began. Mr Joyce, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, is believed to have swallowed 'wraps' of cocaine found in his underwear, according to previous reports. An IOPC investigation was launched shortly after his death.
