THE sister of a man who died in police custody was expected in court today to see five officers face criminal charges in connection with his death.

A sergeant and four constables from Humberside Police were due to be charged with misconduct in a public office at Hull Magistrates Court in connection with the death of 38-year-old Christopher Alder in April ,1998.

Mr Alder, whose sister Janet lives in the Manchester Road area of Burnley, died in the charge room at Hull's central police station after being arrested for an alleged breach of the peace at Hull Royal Infirmary.

He was receiving treatment for injuries he had sustained in an earlier incident outside a nightclub.

Mr Alder died a short time later in the city's Queens Gardens police station.

In the 18-months since his death, Janet, 37, has spearheaded a campaign to find the truth about the incident and organised a 450-name petition urging Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw to intervene in the case.

She also set up the Justice for Christopher Alder Campaign and won backing from the National Civil Rights Movement as well as support from Neville Lawrence, father of murdered teenager Stephen.

The officers, who have not yet been named, were suspended from duty a month after Mr Alder's death pending an investigation ordered by the Police Complaints Authority.

They were due to appear in court for the first time today when they will be formally charged with misconduct in a public office.

The charge falls under Common Law and, though very old, is a serious offence which involves a breach by any person in public office.

Under Common Law a person in public office has a duty to fulfil his or her duties honestly.

The decision to bring criminal charges against the officers was announced by the Crown Prosecution Service in July following a 15-month investigation into the incident.

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