Fresh tragedy for Alder family as Christopher’s brother Stephen dies on anniversary of death in custody

MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL: Windermere House in Birkdale Way, Hull

By Simon Bristow

Stephen Alder, the youngest sibling of police custody death victim Christopher Alder, collapsed and died in a psychiatric hospital on the anniversary of his brother’s death.

Stephen Ade Alder, 56, had just asked two members of staff to help him get to the toilet when he collapsed after trying to get out of a chair in his room at Windermere House, Hull, on April 1, 2022.

There was no attempt to revive him because of a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order which was put in place “due to his medical history”, Hull Coroners’ Court heard today.

Home Office pathologist Dr Christopher Johnson, who conducted a post-mortem examination on Stephen’s body, gave the cause of death as bronchial pneumonia and hypertensive heart disease.

Professor Paul Marks, HM Senior Coroner for the East Riding and Hull, concluded he died from natural causes.

Stephen, who had been a resident at the 30-bed hospital for 11 years after being detained under the Mental Health Act, was being treated for schizophrenia. His other medical conditions included Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and high blood pressure. In 2017 he was diagnosed with a benign tumour in his neck which he declined treatment for.

Dr Johnson said he had “significant natural disease” including an enlarged heart and was “at risk of sudden death at any time” if there had been an alteration to his heart beat. He also said the bronchial pneumonia could potentially have caused his sudden death on its own.

DEATH IN CUSTODY: Christopher Alder

Susan Worrall, the Lead Nurse at Windermere House, said in a written statement that Stephen had become infected with Covid-19 two months prior to his death but had “recovered well”.

Stephen’s sister Janet Alder said in a written statement that Stephen was the youngest of five children and had been taken into care as a baby. She described him as a “vulnerable and sensitive child who cried a lot”. Janet said it was “no surprise Stephen ended up in psychiatric care because he suffered physical, emotional and psychological abuse at 71 Marlborough Avenue” [Hull].

Janet said Stephen had a “sad life” and received “no guidance, love or genuine affection” and seemed to become institutionalised at an early age.

The court heard Stephen had annual reviews about his detention. Giving evidence in person, Mrs Worrall said: “He never wanted it changed, he wanted to stay where he was. He felt very safe and very secure at Windermere House.”

Professor Marks, who began the hearing by offering his condolences to the Alder family, said in conclusion that Stephen had a “troubled childhood” and “suffered physical, emotional and psychological abuse”.

He added: “The conclusion of this court is that Stephen Ade Alder died as a result of natural causes.”

Speaking to The Hull Story after the hearing, Janet, who is continuing to lead a campaign for justice for Christopher, said of Stephen: “He was taken away from his mum aged four months. We lost Emmanuel [brother] the year before in psychiatric care, on the 18th of February 2021, and Stephen on the first of April 2022 in psychiatric care. All through the Alder saga there have been so many unanswered questions.

“May Stephen rest in peace now.”

Christopher Alder, a former paratrooper, was 37 when he died on the floor of the custody suite at Queens Gardens police station in Hull on April 1, 1998. An inquest found he was unlawfully killed.

In 2011 it emerged a 77-year-old woman, Grace Kamara, had been buried in his grave at his funeral while his body was still in a mortuary 11 years after he was supposed to have been laid to rest.