Jamie Smith's family still wants answers about how he died last month, within hours of his arrest.
Smith's family yesterday held a press conference outside the Coroner's Court, the judicial body that police said will investigate his death.
The family learnt last week that he died of asphyxia.
According to his mother, Earla Dorch, Smith, 35, had no previous medical problems. Dorch vowed to continue the push for justice.
Christina Galanos, the family's lawyer, said, "His death certificate lists the cause of death as asphyxia, which means he was unable to breathe normally.
"In other words, something caused him to choke.
"However, we still don't know the circumstances surrounding his death. We do know that Smith was arrested in good health on February 8 and within two hours he was dead at the Central Detective Unit.
"We know that National Security Minister, the Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage, referred to Smith as a 'victim' when he announced that the officers from the Central Detective Unit had been placed on administrative leave.
"Based on the cause of death, we accept this position."
Galanos said the family wants a transparent and impartial investigation.
Referring to an article that was published in The Nassau Guardian on February 18, Galanos noted that Deputy Commissioner Quinn McCartney admitted that police were involved in the investigations since the Coroner's Court did not have its own team of investigators.
Galanos said, "As far as I'm aware, all suspicious deaths are investigated by the homicide division at the Central Detective Unit.
"The officers who have been placed on leave in relation to Smith's death also work there. How well can the police force investigate itself?"
Galanos said it was unlikely that an inquest would begin on March 26, as the date was set without the agreement of the officers' lawyers.
Galanos said there had been no disclosure of the autopsy report and other relevant documents.
She said, "We are interested in the pathologist's conclusion because asphyxia can be caused by different means.
"Depending on what the autopsy and other relevant documents reveal we may take the position that there is no need for an inquest as the Coroner's Court is not a criminal one."
According to the Coroner's Act, an inquest must be stopped if criminal proceedings are commenced.
Galanos said the attorney general successfully prosecuted a man for homicide, although the victim's cause of death could not be determined.
Adrian Robinson was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter in the death of Veronica Knowles.
Galanos noted that Smith's family was not the only one who needed answers regarding a custody death.
Smith became the third man to die in the custody of CDU since 2010.
Inquests are still pending into the deaths of Owen Rolle (2010) and Tyrone Saunders (2012).
She stressed that anyone could end up in the same position as those grieving families.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian