Family rejects suicide finding after bleeding man discovered in cell

The family of a man who died after being found lying in a pool of blood in a police station holding cell say they don’t believe that he committed suicide as claimed by police.

Rasheq Asraf, 36, who worked as at a cleaning job in the Cinema City complex in Jerusalem, was called in for questioning at a police station in the capital two weeks ago after his wife complained of domestic violence, the Walla news site reported Monday.

Hours later, the father of three was found bleeding profusely in his cell by the station dispatcher. He was rushed to hospital in a serious condition but died a day later of his injuries.

Police told his family it was highly likely he killed himself but the the police central investigations unit has decided to look into the circumstances.

Ashraf’s family said that when he was initially called in for questioning he asked to defer the appointment until the next day due to a toothache. He eventually arrived at the station accompanied by his mother, drawing ridicule from officers at the station. Ashraf’s mother was told to leave and, according to family members, he was then set upon by police who also threatened him with a Taser gun.

A family member, who was not identified in the report, claimed that when they were shown his body there were no signs of suicide but a wound behind his ear that had been sown up.

Ashraf’s body has been sent for autopsy at Abu Kabir Forensic Institute.

Police said in a statement that “this is a suspect who was arrested for violent domestic crimes and his wife was staying in a women’s shelter for her protection. At the end of his questioning he was put in a holding cell and until his transfer to jail by the prison service. While he was in the holding cell he apparently broke the florescent light, injured himself and was taken in serious condition to hospital where he died of his wounds.”

“As is the practice in every case of death, an investigation of death was opened by a judge and a police are carrying out a check to clarify the incident,” police said.