Patrick Vernon

Express & Star- ‘I still think about how cruel and disgraceful what happened was’ – Mother of Wolverhampton man who died in police custody

Nearly four decades have passed since the death of Clinton McCurbin, a 24-year-old Wolverhampton man who died in police custody in 1987. Yet, for his mother, Esther McCurbin, the pain of his loss remains etched into her life.

Esther spoke openly at the “STOP! We Are Not the Police” conference held at Wolverhampton Science Park on September 16, where campaigners announced their mission to create a new plaque commemorating the 40th anniversary of Clinton’s death.

Clinton died of asphyxia during a police arrest on Dudley Street in Wolverhampton, inside the glass-fronted former Next store, after officers accused him of stealing a credit card—a claim that was never proven in court.

For Esther, faith has been a guiding force in coping with grief. But she admits that anger and disappointment remain.

“The memories of that day are not as strong now because I’m a Christian and I’ve learned to deal with certain things I cannot fix,” she said. “But sometimes I think about it and how cruel and disgraceful it was that the policeman did not get prosecuted. There was no evidence presented in court, and yet no one has ever apologised. That still bothers me.”

Esther said she hopes the renewed campaign will not only acknowledge her son’s legacy but also protect future generations of young Black men in Wolverhampton.

“This group has raised our civic need,” she said. “It shows how necessary it is to protect our children, especially our men. If the group continues the way it started, it will be good for the community of young men growing up here to know these situations and learn from them.”

Among the speakers was Dr Patrick Vernon, cultural historian, activist, and long-standing campaigner for justice for Clinton. Vernon first became involved in 1987, shortly after completing his law finals, when community members urged him to support the defence campaign.

Reflecting on the decades-long fight for recognition, Vernon said:

“This plaque is more important than any of the others I’ve worked on. Clinton was misrepresented by the media and the police as a criminal, even though there was no evidence whatsoever. We want his name cleared and the case reviewed again. People are still angry, and the family has never had closure.”

The event also featured a poignant book of memories dedicated to Clinton, and contributions from West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster and campaigner Natalie Queiroz, who shared her own survival story.

The push for a new plaque is more than an act of remembrance. For Clinton’s family, friends, and community, it is a demand for justice, accountability, and the recognition of a young man whose life was cut short under deeply unjust circumstances.

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