A SENIOR policeman called in to investigate the death of Christopher Alder found no evidence of an assault by other officers, an inquest heard.

Chief Supterintendent John Holt launched an inquiry just hours after 37-year-old Mr Alder died in police custody, the hearing was told.

The officer, of West Yorkshire Police, was drafted in following the death of ex-paratrooper Mr Alder, of Dagger Lane, Hull, in April 1998.

Mr Alder's sister Janet, from the Manchester Road area of Burnley, is at the inquest being held in Hull.

Chief Supt Holt accepted "full responsibility" for Mr Alder's clothes being destroyed, instead of being kept or returned to his family, but insisted they had no value as evidence.

He added there was no evidence that CS spray was used on Mr Alder and, if it had, paramedics or the police would almost certainly have been affected.

Chief Supt Holt told the inquest into the death of Mr Alder there was no reason for him to believe the police hit Mr Alder in a van. "There was no evidence of an assault having taken place," he said.

He assumed any blood found was from Mr Alder, not from any police officer. A forensic scientist had indicated early on that she believed no assault had taken place on Mr Alder in the police van and his injuries were consistent with one blow.

The inquest has already heard how Mr Alder had been involved in a fight at a nightclub before being taken to the police station.

(Proceeding)