DOWNHAM: Unanswered questions surround death of Lennie Gray (From News Shopper)

DOWNHAM: Unanswered questions surround death of Lennie Gray

7:20am Tuesday 3rd November 2009

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UNANSWERED questions remain for the friends and family of a biker who died of injuries sustained in a police chase.

Lennie Gray was being pursued by officers in a patrol car as he rode along Leaves Green Road, Biggin Hill, on a green Kawasaki Ninja.

The 17-year-old came off the bike and the police gave him first aid until an ambulance arrived and he was taken to Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital around an hour later.

His friend Billy Powell was riding with Lennie on the night he died and says there are many answers they have not been given about what happened.

The 22-year-old, of Rangefield Road, Downham, stopped riding his black Gilera Runner 200 scooter when he noticed the police car.

But he says rather than stop to speak to him they continued following Lennie and, seven days after the crash on October 27, the family and friends still do not know why.

Mr Powell said: “They did not get out of the car and talk to me.

“They went on and pursued Lennie.

“The chase started at the top of the junction of Saltbox Hill and there was no way we were going fast.

“I was pulling out of a junction and they put their lights on when they saw us at a standstill.”

He added: “I pulled up and they carried on so what was their reason for carrying on?

“What was their reason for chasing Lennie? When is somebody going to give us that reason?”

A Bromley police spokesman said: “Officers on patrol in a marked police car in Leaves Green Road noticed a scooter and a motorcycle travelling at speed.

“They signalled for the bikes to stop, one of which did and the other did not.”

The inquest into the death of Lennie has been opened and adjourned.

The Met’s department for professional standards is investigating and the Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed.

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