A 15-year-old footballer tragically died at his home after he and his family were never informed that his bail conditions had expired months earlier, a coroner's court has heard.
System Failure and a Tragic Misunderstanding
Tyrique Jemaa, a talented player for Wythenshawe Amateurs, was arrested on June 30, 2023, and released on bail with conditions that banned him from using mobile phones. The inquest at Manchester Coroner's Court was told these conditions legally lapsed after three months, on October 1, 2023.
However, neither Tyrique nor his family received any notification that he was no longer bound by these rules. Coroner Zac Golumbeck heard evidence of "administrative oversights" and "administrative errors" that left them believing he was still on bail.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) informed Tuckers Solicitors, the firm representing Tyrique, of the bail expiry on November 15—over a month after it happened. The solicitors did not pass this information to the family. Consequently, Tyrique's status had changed to "released under investigation", a fact unknown to him or his relatives.
The Day of the Incident
On December 20, 2023, Tyrique was found with a mobile phone in the canteen at Dixons Brooklands Academy in Wythenshawe. The school, which had been made aware of the original bail conditions but not of their expiry, confiscated the device.
His mother, Sue-Ellen Spence, told the inquest the school contacted her and said they would have to report it to police as a potential bail breach. Ms Spence said she was "concerned" about this and assumed the school would alert GMP.
Tyrique returned home from school with a friend. His sister, Amira Jemaa, said he "seemed okay" and was messing about, but revealed he had told her a teacher said "he would be going to prison" and would be "going away for a long time". Amira said it was hard to tell if he was serious, noting he "wasn't the type to show his emotions".
Tragically, Tyrique was found dead at home later that day after his mother returned from work. A handwritten note found on the staircase read: "fake smiles every day was already killing me".
Institutional Blame and a Family's Tribute
GMP Detective Inspector Gary Kelly, who led a special procedure investigation, stated he discovered two days after Tyrique's death that the family had not been told the bail had lapsed. An email from the school about the phone incident had been sent to the case officer.
The inquest heard that any bail extension would have required an inspector's authorisation, which was not given. However, when Tyrique and his mother attended a police station on October 1, they were told to return in the new year, creating a presumption the bail was being extended.
A legal representative for Tuckers Solicitors argued the duty to inform a suspect of bail expiry remained with the police. GMP countered that informing the legal team was "sufficient" and compliant with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
In a moving tribute, Tyrique's family described him as an "active, curious, intelligent and fun child" with a natural talent for football. "The biggest hole has been left in our hearts that can never be fixed," they said.
The coroner stressed that at the time of his death, Tyrique had not been charged with any offence. The nature of his initial arrest was not disclosed during the proceedings, which continue.
