Private autopsy says Kevin Desir’s death after struggle was homicide, undermining official investigation. Plus, Chinese ‘police stations’ uncovered

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A newly obtained autopsy report has concluded that a 43-year-old Florida man’s death after being violently restrained by jailers was a homicide by strangulation.

Private and official autopsies do not tally. An official autopsy conducted by the Broward county medical examiner’s office on 28 January 2021 found that Desir’s cause and manner of death were undetermined. Broward county medical examiner’s office did not comment on the differences between the two findings, but said that “every examination is separate and independent” from law enforcement.

Kevin Desir died a brutal death. His family believe jail deputies are responsible. Desir was arrested for marijuana possession. Four days later the 43-year-old Black man was handcuffed, punched, shot with a stun gun and pepper-sprayed by detention deputies. BSO said it stood by the internal reviews given to the deputies who had the most contact with Desir after the incident and that recommended training was “not an indication that the employees did anything wrong”.

What are these stations used for? China has claimed the offices are merely “service stations” set up to assist Chinese citizens with bureaucratic procedures such as renewing a passport or driving licence.

Coronavirus is weakening and management protocols could be downgraded, an expert on China’s state media has claimed, after unprecedented protests last week led to a significant shift in Beijing’s commitment to its zero-Covid policy.