This blog is really about the interview which you can listen to on Youtube. Now this interview is the standard police interview I guess all suspects get. Hopefully you will be able to hear me although the quality is not great. It was the early hours id been in a cell for a while and it was after the infamous hospital event in which the police say I attacked them and it was this attack that lead to me being beaten in my head and chest. Pepper sprayed in my face and my legs bound like a Christmas turkey. You must decide for yourself all I can say is that I was on a stretcher and my hands locked in handcuffs and very out of it so to be honest if I was gonna attack six officers of the law I think I may have chosen a better moment. I don’t know maybe when I wasn’t drifting in and out of consciousness and maybe not locked in handcuffs. Put it this way if I did attack them then I must have been crazy to think the odds were in my favour. The truth is I didn’t attack anyone, the truth is I was terrified for my life and I know this may sound extreme but when every face that looks at you looks at you with hate its kinda easy to think that could loose your life in that cell.
Think about it I was in that cell for over 86 hours in total and in that time I saw what I could only describe as a systematic attempt to break my will. I say on the tape that it felt like psychological torture and it was. I am not ashamed to say that by the end I did believe I was broken and there came a point when I would have pleaded guilty to anything. Which I guess is what I did. I felt like I had lost everything my career, my family, my freedom and at times my mind. I was kept in a glass fronted cell where I could see everyone come and go. So I would see people brought in to the station in handcuffs and booked in at the desk then lead off to a cell. A few hours later I would see them leave and this happened so many times that I would think what the hell is going on everybody is coming in spending a few hours in a cell then being released but am still here. Why? Was what I did that bad? I mean, don’t you have a limit on how long you can keep someone in a cell?
The paper work they gave me with my rights said that if someone is not charged after 24 hours then they must be released or that in special circumstances they could take it to 48 hours but after that a court had to grant permission. I was there for over 72 hours in one go. They had me thinking I must have done some shit I couldn’t remember. And as crazy as it seems you mind does start to play tricks on you. My emotion went in waves sometimes I would feel powerful and walk around my cell as if I was saying to myself and them you will never break me. Then without warning I would fall into despair and think I was gonna be looked up there for ever. One officer said to me your gonna be hear until I retire and that’s 11 years. Like I said it seems crazy but you begin to think no one even knows your there. And no one cares or they would have found a way to see me. No one really believes that they would not give me food because that could not happen in this country but listen to the tape and you decide if my story is false. I have posted a transcript of the interview to help as the audio is hard to follow at first so listen, read and see the truth for yourself.
I have been angry but for some reason I am no longer angry at the police for what they did. In a way I feel for them because I could live with being that cold hearted and inhumane to my fellow man. I could not be so fearful that even a musician could be seen as a threat. And its easy to look at them as monsters or evil but they are not these things. They are men and women just like me and you. They are mother, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers just like us. So what has happened that would make them so indifferent to suffering? What could make them have learned these methods in order to break the human spirit and destroy the will? And why does society need us to comply so deeply that it would give them the power to go against their own laws, go against their own human nature and seek to destroy anything they do not understand.
This is why I don’t mind anyone knowing that I cried when I was broken because in a way am glad I did. Why? Because my tears showed I still had a heart, my tears showed that I was still human and yes I did cry for my own pain but more than that I cried for them. I do feel sorry for them and I feel sorry for us all as a race of people that we have come to this. When you read my blog’s do not hate them and do not judge them or condem them. Only love can heal them. The very thing they have lost. So yes see the truth and speak the truth but not in war or anger. Truth needs not be angry or judgemental it only needs to be expressed and set free. Truth itself will do the rest. We have been sent these testing times for a reason.
..you have been examined by the medical staff here al right the time now is ten past twelve on the afternoon of Tuesday 29thth June 2010 this is…
Elavi: i’ve got a pain in my chest
DC Benn: yes but you have been examined by better people than me, more educated people than me you went to the hospital yesterday and they said you are fit to be detained. You have been assessed under the mental health act and they say you are fit to be detained. I’m just going to ask you some questions about what happened at the hospital yesterday (Elavi: Yeh) do you understand that?
Elavi: yeh
DC Benn: Alright then, I’m DC Ben I’m joined by my colleague DC McNichalous. You have been arrested for an offence of a public order offence under section four of the public order act and that happened yesterday afternoon at the royal Preston hospital in the accident and emergency unit there.
Elavi: is that where I was?
DC Benn: yeah that’s where you were. You was with police officers and quite a few medical staff there at the hospital because then you said you had this pain, you got taken up to the hospital and you have been examined and said fit to be detained by us at the police station.
Elavi: So it was you here that decided I was fit to be detained?
DC Benn: No the medical staff I wouldn’t certainly say I was
Elavi: Not when Dr. Durum…is it durum? Dr durum? Durum?
DC Benn: yes
Elavi: The Dr. that discharged me, can I make sure that I am pronouncing his name correctly.
DC Benn: It is Durum I am sure you are quite correct. Anyway that’s why you’ve been arrested. Before we go any further I must caution you.
Elavi: Can I say?
Stephen: You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence
Elavi: Durham right?
DC Benn: Durham would say he’s right yes that you are fit to be detained?
Elavi: No is it, is it, Dr. Durum who discharged me?
DC Benn: I don’t know which Dr. it was. Its the public order offence we’re interviewing you regarding. Alright, so you do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court anything you say may be given in evidence. Now that is a mouthful do you understand what the nature of the caution means?
Do you understand what the caution means?
Elavi: Can I clarify it?
DC Benn: You clarify it then. What do you understand by the caution?
Elavi: It means that anything that I say maybe erm,
DC Benn: what it means is you don’t have to answer our questions, nothing can happen to you if you don’t answer the questions. Do you understand that part of the caution?
Elavi: Can I act as my own legal representation?
DC Benn: Course you can.
Elavi: in all legal matters from now on?
DC Benn: You can by all means, alright.
DC Benn: but you understand that you don’t have to answer the questions don’t you?
Elavi: I’d like to make a statement.
DC Benn: well you can make your statement but when you’ve explained the nature of the caution to you. Then you can have full our full attention and all that of the tape alright? So you don’t have to answer the questions do you understand that?
Elavi: all i’m saying is this, the pain in my chest and the pins and needles in my hand and the pain in my neck and my head. I don’t know if erm…
DC Benn: if your going to speak up you’d better speak up so the microphone can hear you.
Elavi: (laughs/sighs)
DC Benn: OK, so. Seeing as you won’t let us finish the
Elavi: you could have had it down.
DC Benn: pardon:
Elavi: You could have had the microphone down here.
DC Benn: Could have had the microphone but its not its fixed to the wall there. Right seeing as you’re short of breath you save your energy and I’ll carry on explaining the caution to you. The caution goes on to explain that if you don’t answer the questions now and this matter goes to court and then at court you give an explanation or answer all the courts questions do you understand that part? They may think well what Mr. Dowie says to us now makes and awful lot of sense but then they may just take an adverse interest and think hang on a sec if its right what he’s saying to us now why didn’t he tell those two nice officers on this the first opportunity? Has he needed time to get his story together? Do you understand that?
Elavi: you’re saying a lot of stuff
DC Benn: I am saying a lot of stuff
Elavi: if if if can I clarify?
DC Benn: no no no just let me exp’ carry on explaining and then i’ll stop talking and you can take over alright?
Elavi: Can I just clarify what you said?
DC Benn: N…well…go on then?
Elavi: You said that what I say here now when I go to court to legally represent myself in the court of the land.
DC Benn: You’re wasting your chance you better if you wanting to give an explanation speak up and then the tape can listen to you alright?
Elavi: Yeh (slightly inaudible)
DC Benn: So go on, if you when you defending yourself at court…you were half way through…no?
Elavi: Erm…
DC Benn: You wanted to clarify the part of the caution I’ve said up to now. Are you do you understand what I’m s yeah? Do you want to add anything? Or do you want me to carry on explaining the caution?
Elavi: Yeah explain it.
DC Benn: Right it goes on to say if you answer the questions now but this matter still goes to court and then at court you give a completely different answer to the questions or different version of events the court won’t know which one to believe because two different stories both can’t be the truth can they?
Elavi: no
DC Benn: and finally this is the part the microphone comes into anything you say may be given in evidence and that’s because that microphone tries to pick up everything that we say and that’s why you have to speak up and it is purely audible so its only the answers you give via your mouth that are picked up. It doesn’t pick up shaking your head or nodding your head.
Elavi: yeh
DC Benn: OK and the microphone goes to these three machines..er..tape. Goes to this machine that has three tapes in it. The red one is the master, i’m keep ga.. I keep getting tongue tied now.
Elavi: was that a Freudian slip or just a
DC Benn: a Freudian slip…I don’t know what you mean by that..I keep saying there’s three tapes here but I actually mean
elavi: Just made that odd statement is that a Freudian slip
DC Benn: I don’t know what you mean by that.
Elavi: or just a mistake
DC Benn: it was a mistake
Elavi: oh
DC Benn: I’m only human, I do make mistakes, anyway there’s three different colours tapes here
Elavi: You make mistakes,
DC Benn: yes
Elavi: Stephen Benn you make mistakes?
DC Benn: Mmm
Elavi: even now
DC Benn: even now after all this time I still make mistakes
Elavi: how old are you?
DC Benn: oh I’m old enough
Elavi: and have you had much sleep?
DC Benn: I’ve had plenty of sleep, I sleep well. Right, the red tape is a master copy and at the end of this interview I’m going to ask you to sign this seal that gets wrapped around that tape. Alright? The yellow one is a police working copy and we can listen to that tape as many times as we would like and the white one goes with any file of evidence so should this matter go to court if you manage to get to court and represent yourself you can have that white tape by all means do you understand that?
Elavi: what do you mean if I manage to get to court?
DC Benn: well your in agony aren’t you? You keep telling me you are in severe pain. Right and also at the end of this interview you are going to sign this form which is a TR2 which explains how you can get a copy of the tape. But that is normally prior to any court case and normally at your own expense. Alright so when I ask you questions do you have to answer? You get the top copy its alright you get to keep this. So do you have to answer our questions?…..Mr. Dowie do you have to answer our questions?
Elavi: hello what?
DC Benn: do you have to answer our questions during this interview? Do you understand what we’ve tried to explain the caution.
Elavi: As I believe, I do not have to answer anything.
DC Benn: That is brilliant that that means you have understood that part of the question. And how many and how many pieces of paper am I going to get you to sign at the end of this interview?
Elavi: I’m trying to be co-operative officer you know that’s why I’m trying to answer everything.
DC Benn: good lad, good lad, I don’t question that. I’m just asking you how many pieces of paper you have to sign? That one is for the seal that goes around the red tape and that one is to explain how you can get a copy of the tape. So that’s two signatures I require at the end of this interview do you understand that?
Elavi: (inaudible)
DC Benn: right in you, oh and you are entitled to free and independent legal advice I believe you have spoken to a solicitor yesterday that doesn’t want to act on your behalf is that correct?
Elavi: a lot of people have spoken to me
DC Benn: right are you happy now to be interviewed without that solicitor.
Elavi: if it will get me out of here
DC Benn: well I can’t guarantee that but it will assist us
Elavi: can I not get out of the cell, first to just have a break?
DC Benn: a break?
Elavi: You know, just have a break out of the cell you know and get something to eat and a drink.
DC Benn: As soon as you have finished in this interview we will make sure, well we have given you three drinks of water and I’m sure you’ll get some food if required. And i’m sure earlier today you’ve been offered food.
Elavi: As soon as I went to say you know he just went he just asked me and went I turned round just to say yes and he just turned away.
DC Benn: Right well we’ll make sure you get some food
Elavi: Its been days
DC Benn: After this interview
Elavi: its been days days days days.
DC Benn: days without food? will it must have been a lot of visits to you. Anyway.
Elavi: (sighs)
DC Benn: anyway, can you tell us what happened yesterday at the accident and emergency ward
Elavi: well the last thing I remember was being walked out of my cell 7.15 to go to court.
DC Benn: and what time was that
Elavi: I have no idea what time it was I’d been in a cell for over 24 hours so.
DC Benn: So are we saying that yesterday you were walked out of your cell to go to court.
Elavi: I was going to the…i..i was.. they told me I was going to go to court to face charges on er…i was going to court…
DC Benn: you were going to court yeah?
Elavi: and as I walked out of my room and walked up the desk (inaudible) erm… up to i was walking up to the yellow square where you have to stand and er I just got a rush of blood to my head and I err felt the room spinning and fell over. I tried to ask for the assistance of the officer that was next to me but as I went out to grab his hand I missed and slipped onto the floor.
DC Benn: Right so you fell over yesterday morning going on your way to court. You fall over in the custody office.
Elavi: Is that the custody office out there?
DC Benn: Yeah, it contains cell 15 that you, where you been staying.
Elavi: yeah I been in there for 50 sixty hours now
DC Benn: 60 hours that’s a lot of days that. Anyway, so you fall over
Elavi: Please can I have a break
DC Benn: No we’ve only been going 12 minutes
Elavi: I don’t mind it here its cool speaking to you guys but I mean in the room in that room I you know…
DC Benn: but you’re in a different room now
Elavi: (sighs)
DC Benn: you’re in a different room its a whole different environment in here. There’s no glass in here ok.
Elavi: Yawns
DC Benn: so do you remember anything yesterday morning after you entered the custody office and then you fall over. Then what happens?
Elavi: (crying) I look up and I see the face of the officer
DC Benn: you look up and see the face of the officer
Elavi: I trying to ask for help.
DC Benn: and what does that officer do?
Elavi: he’s just one of the officers here
DC Benn: who?
Elavi: he’s just one of the officers here
DC Benn: he’s just one of the officers here? Yeah and then what does he do if you’ve if you’ve fallen over does he pick you up or what?
Elavi: He said, (inaudible) he’s not going to court now, stick him back in his cell, drag him back to his cell. So they dragged me back to my cell so I say and put me in there and I say I’ll go I’ll go I’ll go I just need some water and I’ll go. But if I get out of this cell I could get some medical help before I go to court and. (inaudible)
DC Benn: Yeah so they take you back to your cell and you’re thinking I’ll be alright and I’ll get some medical help. Right so they take you back to your cell and they what happens?
Elavi: (crying)
DC Benn: Then what happens? Do they take you to the hospital?
Elavi: I remember drifting in and out of consciousness in the cell, I’d wake up and hear voices and then I’d go again. I’d wake up I’d hear voices. I think there was a woman there said he’s an actor he’s good this one I’m very impressed, very impressed by his acting.
DC Benn: Acting?
Elavi: She said
DC Benn: Is that about you?
Elavi: Yes and she pinched my ear and I felt a shoot in my ear and she said oh he didn’t flinch at that I don’t know if I think I drifted again.
DC Benn: Is this a police officer or medical staff testing you’re reflexes?
Elavi: I think, I didn’t see her face, I know that it was a woman’s voice and I hadn’t spoken to many females so I think it was a nurse (inaudible)
DC Benn: a nurse
Elavi: yeah, was it a nurse
DC Benn: well I don’t know I wasn’t here I wasn’t dealing with you. I wasn’t in the custody office yesterday so you think you were tested your reflexes by a nurse but it was definitely a female and was that in the police station or was that up at hospital?
Elavi: that was in the cell when I’d been dragged back
DC Benn: right
Elavi: The guy said drag him back to his cell he’s not going to court now he’ll go to court in the afternoon. So then the medical practitioner came in and I was erm and they said I don’t who it was straight away she said this or a little time after I felt my ear that sharp just speak to her tell her what’s happening. But at the time its like my body was asleep.
DC Benn: right so then what happened
Elavi:it just went on feel like I’d wake up and then I heard her say…someone say…throw some hot water in his face he’ll wake up then
DC Benn: throw some hot water in his face? Are you sure it was hot water not cold?
Elavi:that was the funny thing it was a guys voice and he said Elavi we’re going to throw some boiling water in your face now
DC Benn: Boiling water its got better than hot?
Elavi: when he did it he didn’t actually throw it he just trickled it down and it was cold and I was thinking why can’t this stop.
DC Benn: and you was thinking why can’t I respond?
Elavi: its like my body was just
DC Benn: right so then what happened?
Elavi: (inaudible) what else did I hear then say? (inaudible) there was more than one female she said his blood pressure is very high
DC Benn: Well that must be medical staff mustn’t it
Elavi: his blood pressure is very high and all I can say is that nobody verified themselves whilst I was conscious. Nobody said I’m from such and such (inaudible)crowded voices (inaudible) trying to remember everybody’s…you’ve got a cut on your arm there
DC Benn: yes I fell off a bike
Elavi: are you okay?
DC Benn: I’m fine thanks for your concern
Elavi: did you get medical attention?
DC Benn: nah I didn’t need it when you are my age you’re just happy to be alive every morning. But thanks for your concern.
Elavi: you’re welcome sir
DC Benn: Good lad. Right so somebody says you’ve got high blood pressure, another female
Elavi: I don’t know. Somebody said hight blood pressure and his extremities are cold meaning that my hand, my fingers were cold.
DC Benn: yeah
Elavi: the extremities were cold. What else i’m trying to remember.
DC Benn: and did you have one of them strappings on your arm at that time when they checked your blood pressure?
Elavi: strappings, strappings strappings
DC Benn: cos they don’t just go to you and say your blood pressure high they put the devise round your arm and pump it up don’t they to check your blood pressure did you have one of those on?
Elavi: I could have been asleep. (crying) Could I have some tissues please?
DC Benn: well we’ve none free at this moment in time you’ll be alright you’ve got your erm whatever its called your blue suit we’ll get you a clean one of those when we get back so go on.
Elavi: its very undignified to be wiping my nose on my clothes
DC Benn: well its…well alright then err tom err leave the tapes on we’ll just nip next door and get some tissues for him
Elavi: its inhumane
DC Benn: pardon?
Elavi: its inhumane to have to
DC Benn: its inhumane
Elavi: no to have to wipe it on your clothes and have to urinate on the floor in a cell.
DC Benn: well we haven’t made you do that have we
Elavi: I asked I have been made to do that
DC Benn: Just for the purposes of the tape I’m going to continue speaking to Mr. Dowie whilst my colleague goes to get him a tissue for his nose which isn’t running at this time. So you think you had your blood pressure taken and it was a female member of staff.
Elavi: well as I say I was in and out of consciousness and possibly when they put the blood pressure machine on my hand…on my arm at that time I was just not aware of it. I remember somebody saying.
DC Benn: his blood pressure ’s high
Elavi: yeah
DC Benn: Just for the purposes of the tape my colleague has returned and has got some tissues hear you are Mr. Dowie. Right so you think this is at the hospital do you remember how you went up to the hospital.
Elavi: I remember…I remember being, just moving and I thought I’m on a stretcher you know
DC Benn: pardon?
Elavi: I remember moving and I thought I’m on a stretcher now.
DC Benn: oh you remember moving and thinking you was on a flat plate like a stretcher yeah?
Elavi: you know when I was in the cell and the voices were going on my fear was that they were believing that I was just acting there was, there was nothing wrong with me just acting and I thought to myself (inaudible)
DC Benn: so go on we’ve got you at the hospital and you’ve got this blood pressure
Elavi: I didn’t know where I was
DC Benn: you didn’t know where you were
Elavi: That blood pressure thing you’re talking about
DC Benn: yeah
Elavi: when I erm was where did you say you say it was I was
DC Benn: the accident and emergency ward up at hospital
Elavi: when I came round there was a pain well it was like my arm was just expanding expanding expanding like it was going to blow up and I heard a machine going like (makes machine noise) you know up whirring up and when it stopped and went down the pain the pressure and that’s when I came around I opened my eyes and looked down the bed and there was an officer stood there I could hear the sound of like hospital machinery beeps and so forth I concluded that I was in a hospital at that point.
DC Benn: Right,
Elavi: up until then I’d drifted out in and out of consciousness again I wanted to speak to people and move my hands erm
DC Benn:so do remember shouting out and screaming out Katherine Katherine?
Elavi: oh somebody mentioned she was there didn’t they.
DC Benn: who is Katherine?
Elavi: there was a nurse who said his partners here can she speak to him? That was like a dream that I though when I heard that I thought is she where is she?
DC Benn: so is your partner Katherine?
Elavi: katherine is yeah.
DC Benn: so what’s her surname?
Elavi: Katherine Jubb
DC Benn: Katherine?
Elavi: Jubb
DC Benn: Jobb?
Elavi: Jubb
DC Benn: Jubb, oh right so was she at hospital or was you just dreaming she was there?
Elavi: no no no if the nurse is to be believed was she a nurse who said that his partners here?
DC Benn: I don’t know? You’re telling me I wasn’t there but there’s medical staff saying you’re screaming out Katherine Katherine they’re going to kill me Katherine get me out of here please. I was wondering who Katherine was.
Elavi: my partner.
DC Benn: oh right and then I’ve asked you was she there at hospital?
Elavi: Somebody said she’s here they said to the police officer erm that his partner’s here I heard somebody actually say has he got a partner? And then you know they started checking into whether I had a partner. I think she was there I didn’t see her and if she was there when I shouted her name I’m sure she would have come to my aid.
DC Benn: yep d’ya remem so Katherine is your partner
Elavi: was she there?
DC Benn: I keep saying I don’t know
Elavi: but you was at the hospital I take it
DC Benn: I wasn’t at the hospital
Elavi: well you know the people who have made statements against me
DC Benn: yeah they were at the hospital and they don’t mention your partner being there I think the had more things on their mind trying to restrain you when you’re going berserk in the accident and emergency ward.
Elavi: six yeah
DC Benn: I think it took the best part of six persons to restrain you why were you why were you needing to be restrained by so many people then?
Elavi: can I give an account of what I remember?
DC Benn: this is why you’re here this is your interview you give that account
Elavi: thank you where am I up to
DC Benn: giving you’re account of why it took six people to restrain you
Elavi: okay as I say I came around and I felt a pumping sensation in my arm like one would if they were having their blood pressure taken I’ve had my blood pressure taken in the past and it usually goes to a certain level of the pressure but this one was to the far extreme it felt like if the machine carried on increasing it would blow or my arm would blow. I could hear the worry in the medical practitioners voice a nurse a male nurse and he said kept saying to me stop acting no one in my experience is unconscious and there eyes blink and because he was a medical person I believed him and I thought well they (inaudible) think I’m acting so I tried to speak to him at that point but again I was just exhausted totally exhausted. You want to know about when I actually tried to raise the alarm in the hospital erm I’d like to make a distinction between going berserk and raising the alarm when somebody is in fear you know I panicked I’ll admit to that
DC Benn: so
Elavi: i’ll admit to that (inaudible) please
DC Benn: go on carry on why did you panic?
Elavi: I just did
DC Benn: (inaudible) go on
Elavi: surrounded by six police officer you say is that correct
DC Benn: no I didn’t say there was six police officer I said six persons had to restrain you because you was going berserk in the A&E
Elavi: ok well
DC Benn: so your not
Elavi: You wasn’t in A&E you’ve already said that so you can’t define how a man is behaving so to use the word berserk which I believe comes from berserka people that had gone crazy and had no moralistic values but I think by law I am not immoral and I am not berserk and I have a moral that says I treat humans with the greatest of respect.
DC Benn: right well you just said you panicked yesterday so what made you panic? What made you panic to such an extent
Elavi: I even have compassion for yous two
DC Benn: right well this is your interview and I want you to explain why you panicked at the a&e and went I said berserk you said that’s an incorrect word you tell me what happened that you needed restraining by six persons.
Elavi: well the thing that happened that made me so fearful for my life was when erm..Dr. Durham was it?
DC Benn: I don’t know you keep telling me its Dr Durham but I don’t know
Elavi: He discharged me he was stood to the left of me he was the first person I hear saying their name I don’t remember anybody else saying their name I remember their words cos their engraved in my mind
DC Benn: right
Elavi: and he was fearful, and because of his fear I was afraid because I had entrusted myself to that Dr. and Dr. Durham I keep saying Durham but please officers check out his name he will be on the discharge notes
DC Benn: right well
Elavi: he was the one who discharged me he said this and I really want everybody to hear this because i’m going to try stand up for the thingy because you know
DC Benn: Well you tell us and we’ll repeat it so it’s on the tape go on
Elavi: I’m going to stand up (inaudible) I at this moment believe that the Dr. who discharged me is Dr. Durhum and he said these words we can only say fit for release from the hospital we cannot say that he is fit for detention because people die in police custody and he mentioned an event where somebody died in police custody recently and this had caused the hospital staff in most probably the entire country medical profession to look at the guidelines with regards to patients in police custody and because he didn’t want to say that I was fit for detention I became fearful because I thought well they are going to send me back to the cell the police are going to detain me again I didn’t think I was fit for no questioning I didn’t think I was fit for detention now Stephen Benn you said that oh sorry I forgot something we cannot say he is fit for detention the Dr. said somebody else will have to say that he is fit for detention a police officer or sergeant will have to say that he’s fit for detention that’s what happened I (inaudible) stand by that statement.
DC Benn: so what you’re saying is you are at the hospital they’ve put a device on you that almost makes your arm explode and then you hear the Dr say to the police officers
Elavi: was it Dr. Durham?
DC Benn: I don’t know you keep asking me you’re a bit obsessed with names aren’t you you must have mentioned my name three times any way we’ll go on so this Dr. that you don’t know says that you are going to be released from the hospital but only a police sergeant or officer can say you are fit to be detained by us so that made you panic is that correct?
Elavi: yeah I was in fear because I thought
DC Benn: I’m going to die in police custody
Elavi: When the Dr, said that somebody died in police custody recently I thought if he’s not going to keep me here
DC Benn: you’ve got to come back to police custody and that’s where you thought you was going to die.
Elavi: looking at you two guys now sat here there’s no way I can see two men like you comi9ng into a room and killing anyone I can’t see it its just not humane you know but through neglect a man could die in there let me tell you something honestly sir when I call you by you name that because I hope that somebody is going to look at me as a human just like yourself
DC Benn: Well we’ve treat you well have we not?
Elavi: I tell you this Stephen the way I’ve been in this room over these days I can’t take it any more
DC Benn:is that why you’ve gone a little wild then and didn’t want detaining by us and is that why you’ve tried to not come back?
Elavi: I understand why you’ve said that Stephen said I went wild
DC Benn: Well you don’t like the word berserk but if it needs six people to restrain you
Elavi: they didn’t restrain me officer and I didn’t go wild wild is
DC Benn: is from another word meaning
Elavi: no, no, no go on. I’ve never tried to put words into your mouth Stephen so please don’t try to put words into my mouth
DC Benn: well you tell me why it took six people to
Elavi: I am a civilized human being I’ve never been wild this is what you say about animals of the kingdom
DC Benn: please answer the question why did it take six people to restrain you?
Elavi: I’m a human being
DC Benn: I don’t dispute that that’s why I’m talking to you
Elavi: I’ll explain why it took six people, to they feared. the officers feared that what I was saying would hilight police corruption that’s why they started beating me in my chest and hitting me in the head.
DC Benn: about police corruption? The policeman hit me in my head so many times it was like fireworks going off in my brain just flashes of white light bang bang and I thought well when when when I sat up and when I heard the Doctor say I heard the doctor say you know police custody and I knew I was going back I looked at the policeman and I thought (crying) I cant go back there
DC Benn: pardon?
Elavi: I thought I can’t go back there to the cell (inaudible) hospital I thought they would look after me
DC Benn: yeah but when the doctor said you’d been released, discharged from the hospital,
Elavi: I thought to myself
DC Benn: you panicked that you was coming back to us.
Elavi: I looked I looked to the right of the police officer and I saw a yellow switch on the wall and I thought press …press the little switch and the nurses will come back so I said just press it now and my action was to press it and I made a move or I tried to my hand wouldn’t move I was in the handcuffs.
DC Benn: so you tried to press the yellow button to get more staff to come to you.
Elavi: I just didn’t want to go back to the cell officer.
DC Benn: so you didn’t want (inaudible) so and that’s because you didn’t want to come back to the police station because you feared that rouge policemen might kill you in custody.
Elavi: I didn’t think that officer its what the discharging doctor said to be heard by everybody there
DC Benn: what that the police were corrupt and were
Elavi:once again I’m not going to put words into that doctors mouth you will have a statement from this doctor
DC Benn: yeah but I’m just trying to clarify that point you said that the police officers are corrupt this is what the pl the doctor is saying in you full
Elavi:N,n,n,n,n
DC Benn: Ah right
Elavi: N,n n n n n once again you’re going way off base way off base. I said that the doctor said I said it for the I stood up and said it for the purpose for the microphone I said that he said that he’s fit to bit to be discharged
DC Benn: Yes
Elavi: as we see him although I’m sure the tests didn’t come back tests the have to run you know I presented with with what could have manifested as a whole host of medical conditions.
DC Benn: you did what?
Elavi: I presented with a whole host of what could be.
DC Benn: How do you know cos you’re unconscious
Elavi: I’m unconscious exactly
DC Benn: so how do you know what you’re presenting to the medical staff what your ailments are?
Elavi: Exactly
DC Benn: Unless you were acting and just (inaudible)
Elavi: wait wait wait let’s hold it
DC Benn: no hang on a sec
Elavi: are you saying I was acting as well?
DC Benn: no if you
Elavi: you telling that I was acting
DC Benn: You’re telling me that you’re presenting
Elavi: wait a minute wait a minute
DC Benn: ailments to the medical staff if you don’t know what and you was unconscious all the way through.
Elavi: I didn’t say I was unconscious all the way through
DC Benn: so you keep coming past and saying you blood pressure’s high you remember that
Elavi: no no no this was when blood pressure’s high was when we was back in the cell you’re obviously back tracking in order to throw me off but you can’t throw me off because what is right what is just and what is true cannot be changed so therefore if what happened to me is true and it is inevitably and irrevocably true then no amount of lies that you bring against this man will prevail because what is right and what is true will always stand do you understand.
DC Benn: right so let me
Elavi: If there is a miscarriage of justice then it may take ten, twenty years to be revealed and maybe I’ll become known as the Preston one because there’s nobody involved in this system since I’ve come here is interested in my welfare in the least not the health care practitioners yet I have remained here and there I’ve been angry not seen my family in days my little children. Do you have any children?
DC Benn: I have yes
Elavi: do you love those children?
DC Benn: I do yes
Elavi: would you know the pain of not knowing
DC Benn: well I’m not under investigation for a criminal offence
Elavi: (crying)
DC Benn: So what we’re saying now is you have you’re blood pressure taken whilst you’re in the cell is that correct?
Elavi:We’ve gone back to the cell now?
DC Benn: Yeah because you don’t remember any of going up to the hospital I’ve asked you questions how you got to the hospital
Elavi: Boy! I can’t we’ve gone over that bit
DC Benn: no because you didn’t answer the questions did you?
(BEEP)
Elavi: that sounds like the machine when I was in the hospital you know when I was when it was pumping up pumping up pumping up
DC Benn: probably because it came from a machine
Elavi: and when that peep happened it went tszsss down I remember that so clearly just before the Dr. said he’s fit for discharge but
DC Benn: what that buzzer means
Elavi: he’s not fit
DC Benn: hang on a sec hang on a sec what that buzzer means is its almost the end of this tape. Do remember how you got to the hospital? Because well I’ll put another tape in by all means and you can tell us?
Elavi: Well listen you put the other tape in because if that machine has buzzed and that means we are in fear of not recording anything and you want to record it because when we go to court you want to make sure I don’t give two versions of events because if I do give two versions of events you are going to say I was acting and Stephen will stand up and say yeah the brother was acting just like you’ve accused me of today.
DC Benn: right well we’ll stop the tape its been 43 mins and its still recording what time is it now please
DC MacNichalous: 1:55
DC Benn: right and we’ll stop?
Elavi: What day is this?
New Tape:
Elavi: can I see my children?
DC Benn: no just let me time it and date it its now er..well its
Elavi: can I see Katherine?
DC Benn: 12:55 on the er.. Tuesday 29th June 2010. This is a continuation of an interview with Mr. Dowie i’m DC Benn from Preston CID and I’m joined by my colleague
DC McNichalous: DC McNichalous
DC Benn: The urgency of putting this tape in was because there was a suggestion that erm.. we may question or we may be questioned on exactly what Mr. Dowie says whilst during this interview so I hurriedly put a second set of tapes in.
Elavi: No officer officer I didn’t say
DC Benn: will you accept that we’ve
Elavi: you said I was acting
DC Benn: no I didn’t I just said you said about
Elavi: Oh boy!
DC Benn: erm
Elavi: officer
DC Benn: was it was it you said you gave them all these ailments at the hospital.
Elavi: I didn’t say anything
DC McNichalous: Presenting was the word
DC Benn: presenting that’s the word anyway I must remind you that you are still under caution as so you do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court anything I’ve explained it once I’m sure sure are you happy to continue with this interview?
Elavi: Oh officer I so I so I so just want to see my children for a minute
DC Benn: well there’s nothing we can regarding seeing your children for a minute
Elavi: will I ever get back to home?
DC Benn: I don’t know what’s going to happen to you? So what I’m saying to you is
Elavi: its like psychological torture
DC Benn: Its not psychological torture its not we’re not going to torture you but we can’t discuss something that is totally out of our hands what I said to you is do you now remember how because in the first interview which lasted 43 minutes you don’t ya didn’t remember going to the hospital. Are you now saying you do remember going to the hospital?
Elavi: I remember being on a moving device
DC Benn: Stretcher
Elavi: That I presumed it was a stretcher and because I’d heard voices of staff I hadn’t heard before female staff I knew that would mean and I relaxed and I thought I assumed I’m here unconscious I’ve floated in and out of consciousness for the least I don’t know 20 minutes hour I don’t know they’re going to take me to hospital they are therefore I was unconscious.
DC Benn: so when you
Elavi: I walked up
DC Benn: collapsed
Elavi: I walked up
DC Benn: when you collapsed at the custody desk yeah
Elavi: I walked up to the custody desk
DC Benn: yeah and then you collapsed you fell over
Elavi: a blood rush and as I looked up I remember seeing my eyes flicker and I remember seeing a female with blonde hair from group 4 staff I was looking at her she was the one that was going to take me to court I was looking at her and I saw her face look shocked.
DC Benn: Mr. Dowie were you wanting to go to court
Elavi: You keep stopping me from giving my statement
DC Benn: Mr. Dowie were you looking forward to going to court?
Elavi: I can’t keep up with you guys honestly not now can we have a break please I can have
DC Benn: no we’ve just put this tape back in
Elavi: can I have a bit more water?
DC Benn: You can have water at the end of this interview you’ve had three cups of water you’ll be wanting a toilet break if you have any more water what I’m saying to you is we want to get to the bottom of this were you looking forward to going to court yesterday morning?………..do you wish to answer that Mr. Dowie?
Elavi: When you are in a cell and you’ve been in there for 50 hours 60 hours and you’ve not eaten drank and you’ve not seen you’re children then any change that you can have becomes wonderful I was in that cell and I began to think these people look at you as an animal because I mean there’s only so many times that you can stay in a cell and people come past you and you try to get eye contact with them or smile at them or say can you help me please can I go to the toilet and what happens is they just its almost if they’ve been told to just ignore you and because you can see them its its like well they can see me I’ve seen people look at me they know I’m here.
DC Benn: Right Mr. Dowie the question was were you looking forward to going to court yesterday morning?
Elavi: As I said any change is a beautiful thing because it makes you believe that you know there is a possibility to getting home to see your children
DC Benn: So you were looking forward to going to court and you had this sudden rush
Elavi: have you informed my next of kin Julie Dowie have you informed her I’ve asked so many times have you informed my next of kin? Her name is Julie Dowie
DC Benn: I am unaware of that
Elavi: have you been informed of my next of kin?
DC Benn: why would I need to inform your next of kin?
Elavi: like I say when I was in hospital they have a record of my next of kin and she
DC Benn: Are you prepared to answer the questions that I am going to ask you regarding the offence for which you have been arrested?
Elavi: I am answering all your questions in compliance with the rules you set down at the beginning of this interview and I will do so forever because I want to help you go I want to help (inaudible)
DC Benn: Yesterday morning when you went to the custody desk were you looking forward to going to court?
Elavi: I’m here to help you guys
DC Benn: and then you suddenly had a turn and you fall to the floor is that correct and then when you go up to the hospital because you now remember being on a stretcher and you remember somebody speaking to you
Elavi: this is the first time I’ve been asked these questions and the way you are talking to me yeah you know
DC Benn: this is the first time I’ve asked you these questions
Elavi: Can I say can I say you’re saying and I now remember this and I now remember that since we’ve come once we’ve started this interview and you’ve dated from the beginning of this interview is the first time that I have been interviewed on record within the rules that you lay down in the codes and practices it is the first time that’s why you’ve told me all these things how to get the tape I mean for days now people have been saying that last night I was told that two officers would speak to me but they didn’t they brought me in here I spoke to a guy who didn’t want to represent me I begged him I thought he would be here with me today when I had this interview
DC Benn: right
Elavi: Can I have a little bit more water there’s no hurry.
DC Benn:i’m going to ask you one final time and then we are going to cease this interview.
Elavi: cease this interview?
DC Benn: Yeah we’re going to stop the interviewing I’ve asked you all the questions and you have given your account unless you want to carry on.
Elavi: officer can I see my children?
DC Benn: that is not one of the questions or answers I can give at this moment in time can you remember any well no I have no further questions tom is there anything that you wish to ask?
DC McNichalous: I think its been covered your time at the hospital
DC Benn: OK so what you just to summarise that er you at hospital well you were going to court yesterday morning you collapse because you had a sudden rush of blood you then have treatment in your cell you then go on a stretcher to RPH you then overhear a doctor.
Elavi: I didn’t have any treatment in my cell they didn’t administer anything I don’t think so because what they did.
DC Benn: well that’s what I though you said originally but then you said but then you say
Elavi: i’m not changing my story
DC Benn: then you said they put a device on
Elavi: no you told me about the device sir
DC Benn: No I said that’s how they take air err blood pressure
Elavi: If you don’t remember you remember the sound of the machine when I was in the hospital ans
DC Benn: yes
Elavi: and I believed that it was a pressure taking blood pressure taking machine I said and you can rewind the tape if you like that when a nurse or a medical practitioner used the words his blood pressure is high.
DC Benn: was it a female?
Elavi: it was a female who said that? And someone else said his extremities are cold that well obviously they have done
DC Benn: Go on answer tell carry on there where was that said at the hospital or in the cell where you were treated because I though it would have all happened in the hospital but then you have corrected
Elavi: you thought
DC Benn: me on the end of the last interview
Elavi: you thought
DC Benn: and said
you thought
DC Benn: and said and said it happened in the cell.
Elavi: You thought
DC Benn: no I’ll listen to that tape and I’m accurate mate I do make mistakes when I start talking at the beginning
Elavi: you said so at the beginning didn’t you?
DC Benn: yeah yeah but I haven’t made a mistake there you said it happened in the cell alright the time now by my colleagues watch I’m very sorry I forgot to there’s another mistake I forgot to put my watch on this morning but it’s now 4 minutes past 1 and I’m going to stop the tape its been running nine minutes. Go on
Elavi: can I just ask can I not have just a little time with my family
DC Benn: that is totally out of our hands but I’ll go back we’ll get you a drink and get you some food.
OK, question: What is the situation I am in now? Well they took every song I’ve ever written so the lesson here is to back stuff up don’t keep all your shit on your computer cos the police could come and seize you and your music and they kept all my musical equipment from me. Lesson number two don’t pay £2000 building up equipment when you know the police don’t like black guys standing in the town centre singing about truth I mean what was you thinking did you not read about Bob Marley and all the others who got shot or died mysteriously by a lone gun man or the famous overdose. Now I got to pay them £100 court costs work for them for 100 hours without pay and see a guy every week for a full year who is gonna help me get to the bottom of why I am now a criminal. Well am not sure about the lesson here cos for a start I can tell him in less than an hour why I am a criminal that bits easy. You set me up dude but that would just land me in more shit so like a good slave would say ‘I don’t know boss am sure I did do something wrong I guess am a criminal boss cos I was standing and singing in town and then I don’t know I must have lost my mind and all of a sudden I started telling these good people how the police had been treating me and I guess that why I am a criminal’. Or I could just mess with his head and say ‘I am an evil genius I was born to come here and destroy your demonic system of corruption’. I haven’t got a clue what I am gonna say to be honest. One thing is true and that is the fear of prison keeps getting throw my way and for a while it was scary because isn’t prison full of the worst people in the world? Then I came to my senses and I realized that prison is full of people who look like me, smell like me, in fact I bet you gonna find some of the innocent there just like me. And didn’t Malcolm X become the X when he was in prison. And didn’t Nelson Mandela strengthen himself behind the bars of the haters. Yeah in fact didn’t Jesus himself would hang out with the killers and the thieves and wasn’t he put to death along side two criminals. I think to be honest god loves us criminals cos he is with us in the cells and in the dungeons giving us hope. Even the lowest of us have hope my friend so I realize that if they were to imprison me that is the best thing they could do cos that’s the place where we find truth and many lost souls are in prison waiting to hear a man like me speak to them and many people are in prison because they just needed someone to listen or needed a brother or needed love. Not a system that turns a man into an animal just because he has done what we call a crime. My fear is gone because I gonna share something with you. When I went into hospital from my cell I was thinking at last the nurses and the doctors will help me here but when I got there there was no love. The doctors looked at me as a criminal before my trial and it was on the grounds of Preston hospital that the police beat me and spayed pepper spay in my eyes and not one doctor came to help me. It was in hospital that I was left for dead because I remember a doctor called Doctor Durham say that he could not say I was fit to be detained cos people have died in the hands of the police but still this doctor let them take me back to a cell in pain. So my fear is gone. When you see a man laugh to his friend after he has beaten the life out of you then truly you have seen the worst of man kind. So prison don’t really hold no fear for me any more. In fact I understand the term if it don’t kill you it only makes you stronger and stronger still. They can break your body but they can’t break your will. Neo was offered the red or the blue pill in order to see the truth. I was held down and beaten by Lancashire police to see the truth so in a way they did me a favour cos not every one in life gets to see the truth. Yes I know this blog is a bit of a rant cos am in that mood but for those who want a more step by step blow by blow account check out my IPCC complaint it is written in a very lecture like way. For those who like a long long read indeed.
Let me end this blog by saying all the people I went to for help. Mark Hendrick MP, he said I was lying. Nick Clegg, they said they were not getting involved. David Cameron his office said he was out. Lesson number 3 don’t call the prime minister when you are facing a miscarriage of justice he might be out to lunch or writing a speech about freedom. EITHER WAY HOW DARE YOU CALL HIM, HE’S A VERY BUSY MAN.
ELAVI aka the Prisoner.
PLEASE LISTEN TO PART 2 AND 3 OF THE POLICE INTERVIEW BELOW
Hello again people its been a while since I have anything to blog about but am back. Am gonna tell you about the hardest and most testing month of my life. Am gonna tell you how in just over a month I became a criminal, a convict, public enemy number one. And no, am not daydreaming or writing a song, everything am gonna tell you is real. I am going tell you my story because since the beginning of this saga no one has listened to me. No one has seen my humanity, no one has seen a man. Just an animal, to enslave, to brutalize and to criminalize. OK let me summering because I will be doing a few blogs about this event and in a way I will define my life in terms of before and after the 22nd June 2010: the date it all began. On this day I went out to street perform as I do every day I can, as you all know my mission is music. As I was setting up a police officer from Lancashire police force came over and told me that I can not play and if I do I would be arrested. I asked this individual what was my crime and he replied saying there was no crime but if there is any complaints then I would be arrested. Wait a minute I said, no one has complained but you are telling me that I will be arrested for something that has not yet happened. So I told this man to go away and this was the start of a series of events that would; land me in hospital twice, get me kept in a police cell for over 86 hours…wait people there is more. Whilst I was in the cell much of the time I was held with out food or water. At one point I was made to urinate on the floor of the cell because I was refused the use of a toilet and in my mind was systematically tortured into pleading guilty to crimes I did not commit. Well most of you are thinking that that is insane and that I must have done something. You are right I did do something. After the 22nd of June because I was just sick of the police targeting me I decide that I would tell the people what had been happening to me since 2007 at the hands of Lancashire po;ice force. On the 24th of June I set up to play my music on the flag market in Preston and whilst doing that I began to tell the people what had been happening. I told the people that the police who were once here to protect and serve us were gone and now in there place was a force here to control and herd us like sheep. I told them that we are no longer free. It was this action on my part that brought the full force of not just Lancashire police force down on me but the entire criminal justice system in Preston down on me. If one man can be made to feel like a terrorist or a killer or any of the worst things you can imagine then I was. OK let me just make it clear my intentions right now. I am not writing this blog to attack the police because it is my understanding that this is what they want me to do so they can come again in force to lock me down. I am writing this blog in love and I will say forgive them for they know not what they do. OK that seems a little to Jesus for me I guess but to be honest I can only believe that men who do such things are lost and truly do not know what they do. So without fear I will tell my honest story and if they come for me again then so be it. In the time since the 22nd I also had my computer seized from my home which contained every song I have ever written and all my musical equipment, that’s why I’ve not been seen playing anywhere for a while now. And know many of you are asking the simple question why would a police force want to seize a man’s music and stop him from playing his own music? I have been asking myself the same question. Over and over again. Is music really that powerful that the system would turn its attention to me? Surely not? Well I guess you will decide for yourself. All I can say is that over this time I was angry, I was afraid, I was shocked to the core of my being. I wont lie at times I cried like a badly and at other times I truly felt like my soul and my will had been broken. I felt like everything had been ripped away from me and it was. OK this is just the start of my story as I try to rebuild my career and my music. I guess this is my way of healing the scars that you can not see. I will show some of the scars that you can see, the one on my body but I can only tell you about the scars on a man’s soul left there by who was suppose to be his brother the men who we look to for help in times of need the men we call the police. Crimestoppers have become the soul stoppers or at least they tried to stop mine. I am gonna post everything I can like the police interview where they came for me at night and questioned me about false crimes. But remember, I am not saying they are wrong because we must remember this is a criminal speaking now, an outlaw so don’t listen to me if you think these words may change your mind cos that could very well be a crime. Turn away from this page if you believe I am a liar as well as a criminal. The law is always right isn’t it? So don’t listen to the interview tapes. Do not read the letters I sent to the Prime Minister and Nick Clegg asking for help. Do not read the IPCC document I wrote telling them what had been done to me in the hands of the police because the police told me I was a mad man and I don’t want any of you good people to waste your time on the words of a mad man or a criminal…or a mad criminal. East enders will be starting soon or am sure you may have a copy of heat magazine that you forgot to read. Step to it now people. But if there is one of you like me out there who can hear a lie and know it to be one then stand strong for the trial of Elavi is about to begin.
ELAVI aka the convict
LISTEN TO PART ONE OF THE LANCASHIRE POLICE INTERVIEW BELOW
Hi again people, it’s musical avenger Elavi, once again, with a little bit of a different subject today but one that I think will take my blogs and articles in a new direction. The news that Shyne will be released today gave me much food for thought. For those that don’t know Shyne is the rapper who was imprisoned in 2001 after a high profile shooting incident involving Sean P-Diddy Combs and his then girlfriend Jenifer Lopez.
It was said at the time and many times since, that shyne took the fall for the high level Combs who walked away from the incident without doing any time. If this is true then why? Can it be to do with your connections in this hip hop world, in the world in general? The reason why I find this story so interesting is not because the shooting ended the career of a rising hip hop star, who many believe was beginning to put to bed many critics who believed he was nothing more than a Biggy Smalls imitator. It also interests me because it makes me ask the question who holds the power in this hip hop world and the music industry as a whole? Who takes the fall and who walks away free? Who gets shot and who washes the blood off their hands clean to do business as usual?
One thing I am beginning to realise is that all is not what it would seem in the hip hop/music world and this reflects on the world in large terms. Most people will be asking will shyne be able to pick up where he left off and no doubt there will be labels ready to capitalize on his release but the bigger question for me is who is pulling the strings from behind the scenes. As you know my music talks about life and truth and I have covered other aspects of music in my blogs but as time goes on my eyes seem to be opened more and more to the shaping factor that music has in creating culture. Maybe I can explain asking a few questions. Is there a power in the world that uses music to create culture? Is there a power that influences us daily in our choices? Influences us what to think? How to be? What to wear etc? Think for a minute… could it be possible that this whole gang, gun, hip hop culture was a creation from the out set and that people like Shyne and P. Diddy are just pawns in a game. Now don’t get me wrong am not saying that every pawn is an unwitting player in this game. In fact I believe that many of these pawns know that game and play their part perfectly but they are being pimped just the same.
The term illuminati is a term that some people think is conspiracy, some think is fantasy, and few think is fact. Those from certain sectors of the hip hop world will know the term very well and maybe will have rhymed about from their particular point of view. But what is it and how does it relate to the music world. I am this time wondering what the answer is to this very question. Why did tupac call his album kilumaniti just before he was shot dead? Why do Masonic symbols pervade music and hip hop? I intend to go deeper in to this area both artistically and educationally and the first project I am working on is a film that as yet has no title but will reveal my findings so stay tuned. The truth is out there and just before I go I will answer the question first posed by this quick article. Will shyne still shine in this illuminati driven hip hop world? If he gives he will get.
Hi people I’m back with the most important blog I have ever written. It’s about my trial which took place on the 14th of Jan 2009 and lasted two days.
Looking back to when I started making music, I would have laughed if someone had said I would one day be prosecuted for selling my music, or that I would have to spend two long days in a court room defending my life as a musician. As ridiculous as it seems, that is what happened. Most of you will be aware that I’ve been fined before for the same thing however on the first occasion I pled guilty so there was no trial but this time I pleaded not guilty and decided to fight.
And what a fight it was. Until the actual case I had no idea how seriously Manchester city council were taking this case. But now I know that the reason they put £4000 of tax payers money into bringing down a musician was because they are trying to get us all off the streets, anyone selling music and as you know this is becoming more and more popular as a way of promoting music. To us it’s a musical lifeline to them it’s a big big, problem. They need cases that can be pushed into the media to show they have an issue here and then they can go to parliament to bring in legislation that will give them the power to effectively wipe out the problem just as you would wipe dirt of your shoe before you step into your house.
To the council in Manchester we are that dirt on their feet and all we are trying to do is eat and make music.
I went into the court room well prepared or at least I thought I was well prepared. Now its over I will say one thing to anyone thinking of defending themselves in a court of law. Nothing you can do can prepare you for the way these people fight and what they will say and do to convict you. I felt I put up a really great fight and even the judge said this. In effect they wanted me to both be fined and have to pay for the cost of the trial and the cost of the investigation which would have left me with fine in excess of £5000.
Think about it, for selling music for between £1 and £6 I was potentially looking at a £5000 fine. This would have definitely brought me down a peg or two. The dream wouldn’t have been over but it would have made it that much harder.
I hope you are all wondering why I called this blog big brother is reading. Well read on it will become clear very soon. Most of you may have read two of my previous blogs speaking about my history with the council so you will be aware that it has been going on for some time. PRICE OF YOUR DREAMS and YOUR CITY IS MINE are the blogs in which I mention stuff related to my case. Little did I know that what I had written would come back to haunt me in such a spectacular way.
I found the trial both exhilarating and draining if that’s possible sometimes I felt I was winning, for instance when I was able to put the Council officers on the stand and question them to reveal they are similar to robots who know nothing. Then the CCTV operators who claimed to know nothing and got away with claiming this even though they looked ridiculous saying that on oath. The law really is not in your favour when it comes to proving your innocence.
But there were other times when I thought this is not going well no matter what I do or say they don’t care I’m just guilty to them. I can say that throughout the two days that the trial went on it seemed like 50/50 as to who would win and a reporter from channel M called Kevin Duffy who was covering the trial said the same.
Well that 50/50 changed once I took to the stand. Now don’t get me wrong I didn’t fall apart under the strong questioning in fact I quite enjoyed and was doing well avoiding his clever and very tricky questions. In fact, this guy prosecuting me, was more sly that clever.
No, it was the evidence that was brought in that lost the case for me. This brings me back to the two blogs I mentioned earlier. To my shock as I was being questioned the lawyer for the prosecution pulled out copies of my blogs and asked if I had written them. I was like DAMN, DOUBLE DAMN, what the f@#k was going on here? I can’t tell you how shocked I was. That the guy had been on my MySpace PAGE and taken something I thought I was writing to all my friends on here into court to help convict me.
I was hoping that I didn’t look shocked but I was and I didn’t know how he intended to use the evidence or what questions were going to be asked so I waited for the next blow as he passed copies to both me and the judge while am trying my hardest to remember what I had said in the blogs and how it would effect the proceedings. I wont lie this is the first time in the case that I was lost for words big time.
That’s what I meant when I said nothing can prepare you for going into a court of law. I said I had prepared for this fight well the fight was on and the blow I just took nearly put me on the floor, out cold with my mum stroking my hand and paramedics saying ‘I don’t think he’s gonna make it’.
The lawyer for the prosecution saw that I had been shook and went in for the kill. You believe yourself to be at war with the Council don’t you Mr Dowie, that’s very aggressive of you wouldn’t you say ? Was his first question. Then he read out a section from THE PRICE OF YOUR DREAMS where I spoke about the fine I had received before was worth it and how they taught me about control. Right now am looking at the judge who is reading it and her face aint looking good at all.
Next blow, he started to read from YOUR CITY IS MINE blog. You say in your blog that you are going to use this case to get as much press as possible is that what you think of the law? You say you are dying to have some fun cross examining the witnesses, is that the way you look at this case Mr Dowie, as just fun?
In fact it was blow after blow question after question all the time the judges face is looking worse than the moment before. For me there was no getting away with it I wrote that stuff and now it was being used against me. Inside I was thinking what my next move is going to be, is there a next move? So in true Elavi style I just decided to come out fighting, my attitude was like SO WHAT. Yeah I said it and just because I am at war with the council don’t mean I got guns you do know you can have a war of the will or even the game of chess is a form of mental war. Now I don’t know if the judge was buying my answers because when it comes down to it the court of law is all about respect and when they get the idea you don’t respect the court or the law then it isn’t good for you. That was the aim of bringing in the MySpace blogs as evidence they wanted to show that I was an aggressive individual a trouble maker who if not stopped would keep on selling in the street and in their eyes breaking the law. They wanted swing the case by showing that I was wasting court time by using a trial to get publicity while knowing all along that I was guilty. I was thinking this is over, the judge was looking me like I was the black Jack the ripper and the prosecution was looking smug like the battle was over and a little voice in my head saying stuff like go on Elavi the judge is a woman try to charm her, get your shirt off, get the chest out, ask her out on a date, stand up and do the chris brown track No air, do something bro. but luckily I was wise enough to know that, that little voice I my head had gotten me in to trouble before so I just sat this one out and guess what after a while of hardcore questioning and some deliberation by a then convinced judge its was over GUILTY AS CHARDED.
So that is the story of my trial the result was that I have to pay £300 to the council and they spend £4000 trying to bring me down. Now in business terms it doesn’t make sense to spend £4000 to get back £300 so that must tell you how much they want people like me off the streets. So who has won because as it says in the YOUR CITY IS MINE and other blogs I will still be out there only I will have to pay them £5 a week and guess what a friend of mine told me to look at that as rent and if I do that then its well worth it.
But the real reason I wanted to share all this stuff with my friends online is because of the way I was prosecuted. We all know big brother is watching and we see thousands of CCTV set ups every where we go. But did we know that big brother is also reading? Did we know that something we put on our MySpace, Facebook or any other social networking site is being scanned for the ones they may feel are stepping out of line. If I had written this two weeks ago to me it would have sounded a little paranoid to be saying this but I have gone through it.
Many of you will be think then why am I so stupid to put more stuff on MySpace if I know its being read. Good point! The truth is I don’t care in the least because freedom is freedom and although these freedoms that we hold dear are being eroded at an ever increasing pace it doesn’t mean we must stop being open and sharing our views. We have come to fight injustice and to break every single wall that would try to hem us into conformity or mental slavery. Music is the only way of fighting that I have and the ideas that I share with you all in my blogs. But hopefully the people that read this blog will know that all is not what it seems. I feel really great that I have been able to see the truth of the way this system is design and it’s like a gift that I can now share with you as I hope you will tell others what has happened to me. Spread the word people tell your friends and family my story but remember big brother is reading…
ELAVI
AKA the WHISTLE BLOWER
MORE VIDEOS FORM ELAVI WWW.ELAVI.COM AND SPR RECORDS
Ok people right now I am on a train going in to Manchester and I thought it would be a good time to write a new blog. Now I am not killing time this is my life and the reason I feel it’s a great time to write is because I am on the way to the magistrate’s court for the second time to be charged with Illegal Street trading of CDs. As ridiculous as it may seem when there are so many real criminals out there the system feels it’s a good idea to try to criminalize a musician for trying to get his own music out to the public.
As many of you know from my earlier blogs I have been at war for sometime with Manchester City Council and have been fined £250 in an earlier case. In the previous case I had no certificate so I was advised to plead guilty as a not guilty plea would have resulted in a steeper fine as the CCTV evidence made it clear that I was selling CDs to the general public. However, I now have a certificate and there is no way that I will be pleading guilty. It’s like the legendary Mohammed Ali said just before the 1974 fight against George Foreman
“I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.”
Well am not saying this is case equals the greatest boxing match of all time or that I am equal in statue to the greatest boxer there has ever been but I have done something new for this fight. I intend to defend myself and put these people who accuse me on the witness stand and I have the right by law to do it. I am not sure that will happen today as I think once I plead not guilty they will set a trail date but I will let you know what happens a little later.
The truth is that the council being local government want people like me off the streets and out of the city but my truth is that what you call your city is also my city I was born here and I grew up here. It seems they are saying to me that you can not choose the way you make your money and you can not come into the city centre to make it. Basically they have drawn a line around the city and anyone trading within that line is viewed as a criminal even though there is a law that says I can trade. That’s like giving someone a 3 ft ladder to climb a 50ft wall. Well this is my city and if I can’t sell here I will play here. That is exactly what I have decided to do. I have bought a £1000 worth of equipment In order to take my music to the streets, if they won’t feel me then they will hear me. Not only will I take it to the streets of Manchester but I will go to many other cities. Your city is mine. This also solves the problem of promoters who don’t wanna pay an artist to perform. A problem I have been having a lot lately, no in fact that is just standard in the music game middle men who wanna take but not give. Yeah I’ve been told that if you street perform it will devalue your music and you will be just a busker but the truth is I don’t give one. There are good buskers and bad buskers; there are good street performers and bad street performers. If my music is devalued as a result then so be it. I am looked at as a criminal for selling my music on the streets anyway and in my heart and mind the value I put on my music is not defined by where it is played. At least I will control it and my destiny. And I will have FREEDOM to play where I want to. (Don’t speak too soon Elavi the council may have some agents trying to shut down street performing too). To me this is a logical step in a music business that ignores to a large degree Urban music isn’t it right that I should make it truly urban?
Ok am going into Piccadilly train station so I will give you part two of this blog on my retune journey. In a bit Elavi people……….
Part 2
Ok am back on the train and as I suspected there was no case to speak of I was just asked to enter a plea and now a date has been set which is the 14th January. It’s a pain in a sense am dying to have some fun examining the witnesses. It’s the only time a brother like me is going to get to make these agents answer my questions between now and then I am going to hit the streets and make as much money as possible because in the end I guess the system is stacked in their favour and I may end up have to pay these people more money, but hey life is full of drama right? Plus, I am going to use this case to get as mush press as I can, I mean, you can’t blame a bother for capitalizing on a situation. On the serious side I think we have to highlight things like this case because selling music on the streets is now a way of life. It is making it possible for maybe artist to make a mark on the industry or even bypass it altogether and that is needed because the industry is very sick and no amount of medicine can help it, not only that but the country and world is financially sick too. So what are people supposed to do? Just sit back and accept failure? Say because I haven’t got a record deal I will give up and sign on to job seekers and join the millions out of work? To me the answer is a simple one. I must fight to create the success I desire because life is a fragile thing. There is no guarantee that you will live another year, day or even hour for that matter. So why live your life in despair or in a situation where you are not trying to achieve your dreams and desires. My way is to create my own label which I have done and sign myself to that. Create my own music, market it and sell it. Create my own videos just like the big players do. And who’s in control? That’s right me.
People say to me why don’t I go on the X factor? As an alternative to selling my own music? Well some people say it. People who in my opinion believe that it would be better to sell my soul to the likes of Simon Cowell than it is to sell my music to the public. I don’t hate X factor, don’t get me wrong, its entertainment and if you are bored on a Saturday and want to indulge in the karaoke cheese fest that is X factor then go for it. What I do think is crazy is the fact that so many artists believe that this is the way to go, and pin their dreams on being the next Leona Lewis. This truly is the musical matrix controlled by agents like Cowell who take pleasure in crushing dreams under foot as he dominates as the number one star maker.
I would rather take my chances with the council for now and like Kanye West said and I am sure many before him. What don’t kill you will only make you stronger. And it is making me stronger by the day. I hope that many of you will pass by when am playing in the city (cities). Look at it as a free gig, well unless you want to throw money my way after all I do have court costs to pay. I will be sending out bulletins to let you all know when and where. It might even turn into a tour.The, “Your city is mine” tour. What do you think? Got a little ring to it don’t you think?
“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on and individual level. It’s got to happen inside first. You can take away a man’s political freedom and you won’t hurt him- unless you take away his freedom to feel. That can destroy him. That kind of freedom can’t be granted. Nobody can win it for you.”
I firmly believe that all freedoms are necessary and I will come back to Jim a little later, however, let me drop the real reason for this blog on you.
Recently, I went to a venue in Manchester, my home city, called Moho Live situated in the city centre. I went to find out the capacity of the venue in order to hire it out for a series of shows. I was thinking because this venue is relatively new on the Manchester music scene they may not have fallen pray to the Manchester music disease or more to the point the urban music lock down, lock out or whatever you want to call it.
What I mean for those that don’t know and many would have no reason to know this as they are not actively looking to hire venues. Unless you are a musician or promoter working in the so called urban music field you would not come face to face with this situation.
But to explain it let me relate the conversation I had with the guy who deals with MOHO live’s bookings.
I asked how much it was to hire and the capacity, he told me it was £600 and the capacity was 400-500. We chatted a little bout what kind of stuff was happening because as we spoke there was a lot of activity going on and many people were coming and going from the venue. (You know trying to put the brother at ease and chill him right out) The conversation looked promising I was beginning to let my self believe that I would be able to pay the man his money arrange a date and start promoting.But not so quick partner! Cos here it comes, the million dollar question…
So what kind of night you thinking of putting on? What kind of music will you be doing?
My mind started ticking over because I’m thinking should I tell him the truth or should I remix it for his ears should I leave out all references to hip hop , soul , RnB and just tell him am putting on a few indie bands?At lighting speed I did the EL calculations and in my brain box computer, if I told him that it was the indie band option I could get I there but what happens when he sees the promotion or worse still when it comes to the night it self? Or should I tell him the truth that its hip hop? Well I decided to go with the latter, I’ve been here before and I can’t be dealing with lying to get my foot in the door especially when am paying for the door. So I told him the truth. And before you could say “call the cops I think that brothers got a knife” I saw his expression change like blood draining from his veins and he mouthed those immortal words!!!! We don’t have anything to do with hip hop, grime, drum n bass or any urban music mate its just our policy. I knew it was pointless telling him that my music wasn’t violent or that there is never any trouble at my shows. This brother was a closed shop.
Now as I say this situation is more or less the norm when it comes to urban music and when this first started happening I felt that this was like some conspiracy against the likes of me and my music, but now I have a little more insight I can see how complex the situation is and what has brought us to a situation where this can happen.
At one time I blamed the venues and the promoters because they are blatantly excluding people on lines of music so it could be seen as deadly bullet against artist like me who just want to play and reach more people with their music.
But let’s scratch the surface. In recent years it seems that every venue/club dealing with urban music has been shut down and usually for reasons of violence in one form or another usually gun related. It even got to the point where we had the infamous and disgusting Havana club that had more cameras than big brother, cattle gates metal detectors so much so it felt like you was entering Guantanamo bay. Obviously this type of club is becoming more the norm up and down the country, but when it was, and it was for a long time, the only venue of its kind it said a lot about the city and what it had become.
In a sense those go back to the latter days of the world famous hacienda where gangs fought for control of the growing drug culture in Manchester it was also around this time that the city became known as Gunchester. The result of which was the death of the super club and the police and powers that be decided to change the city into a bar culture city and regulate the clubs. There was to never be another hacienda.
We are the product of those days and the violence is still here and it has infected the music, deeply.
As I mentioned in my blog is hip hop dead? There was a time when there was many forms of hip hop prevalent in the mainstream and the so called underground. Today it seems that without talk of killing, cutting throats, lyrics, graphically depicting degrading violence then music is not considered relevant. The grime scene is so infected with lyrics designed to put the other MC down and build your reputation in terms of verbal attacks that it has in many ways become the norm.
What we sow really is what we reap and we have reaped a situation where venues an promoters are afraid of the genre as a whole or at least they would rather just avoid the music to be on the safe side, I mean after all as a venue owner why would you want to loose your licence because it kicks off in your club?
But it goes deeper than that why has music and creativity become a thing used to depict violence in such measures? From very early on in society it has been know that music can influence and even control the masses. It has been know that way of thinking and ideology can be transmitted by musician. You don’t have to go far to see how many politicians align themselves with influential musicians.The list is endless of musicians who back political parties or who influence young voters. Look across the Atlantic to see how many artists have put their weight behind Barak Obama. I will go into this more in a later blog but my point here is that music is a powerful influence over the heart and minds of people but the young in particular. Why, then does the powers that be want the people to be infected with a message that does not embody any hope?
Why do so many MC’s want to embrace a destructive mentality? Snoop Dog can no longer play in the UK after violence at his show in Manchester. At the height of The So Solid crew’s short reign it was their reputation for violence at the shows that put an end to their careers. Which promoter wants to put money into that? Apart from the controversy that’s gains some headlines in the end it back fires.
I need to put the record straight, I need to say at this point that music is not in my opinion about selling fake realities where everything is good and we all lead perfect lives. We don’t and music should reflect this. Hip hop has been a voice of the voiceless and it has been the ghetto internet for many that would never of known what was going in many neighbourhoods but there is truth and there is fiction and there is also soulless individual who make soulless music not to express a terrible situation you might be living through, but because you have become twisted in that mentality.
Ghandi said an eye for an eye and the whole world will go blind. Well I am speaking to the musical blind. It is time for a change in the music. It is time for the brave and strong to find a new way of shinning, a new way of spreading a new word free of hate and violence. We look around and knife crime is the new buzz word of the media and many believe they have to walk with a weapon to be safe. Then what have we become? What has the music become?
Fear is a part of human nature. Fear is the mind killer you can achieve nothing in life with fear inside you and when people fear our music then the way has been closed to us. But for now all is well because the violence is contained within small pockets of Manchester that some call the ghetto and the music is not heard pounding down the walls of city venues.
This brings me back to Jim and the start of this blog. No one has told us to wear a mask of negativity. No one has told us to be studio gangsters. No has made us to use our most powerful resource for hate and destruction. We have chosen freely. But to end this I want you to read what Jim said just one more time.
“The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. There can’t be any large-scale revolution until there’s a personal revolution, on and individual level. It’s got to happen inside first. You can take away a man’s political freedom and you won’t hurt him- unless you take away his freedom to feel. That can destroy him. That kind of freedom can’t be granted. Nobody can win it for you.”
ELAVI is the popular musician originating from Old Trafford, a small borough of Manchester famous for its football and musical legacy and infamous for its association with gun and gang violence. It is out of this landscape that ELAVI has crafted a unique genre pushing musical style. Using a ever changing mixture of spoken word, rap, funk, soul, pop, electronica, rock, hip hop and jazz he delivers an original and experimental soul to the heart of music....
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August 3, 2010 
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