Ahmad Doumani Khan · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 8th May 2012 I commenced an investigation into the death of Ahmad Doumani Khan (aged 20 years). The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 21st January 2013. The conclusion of the inquest was that Mr. Khan died from multiple injuries sustained in a fall from the top level of the Q Park car park, St. Paul's Square, Sheffield. The narrative conclusion stated that no other person was directly involved in the fall, but it was also not clear if Mr. Khan intended to take his own life.

On the morning of the 3rd May 2012 Mr Khan was in Sheffield city centre, with friends. Mr Khan was known to have problems, and he sent text messages to persons at that time. However, he was also indicating plans he had for later that day, and into the future.
CCTV shows that Mr. Khan and a friend were in the area of the Q Park car park from 1300 hours to 1710 hours on that date. They were seen to walk up through the lift area of the car park and eventually they went onto the top floor, which is uncovered. There is no CCTV coverage of the area where Mr. Khan fell from.
Mr. Khan was with his friend when he got on to the perimeter wall, near to a corner of the car park. A short while later he fell, witnessed both by his friend and a person in a nearby building. Mr. Khan’s friend indicated that when he, Mr. Khan, was stood on the perimeter wall, at the corner, Mr. Khan was only about 3 feet above him.

(1) Access to the perimeter wall is very easy. There is the height issue (only about 3 feet), but also the fact that inside the wall is a crash/protective barrier for the parking of cars, which was described by the friend as being used by Mr. Khan as a ‘step’, up on to the wall. The concern is that any person, of almost any age, and certainly much younger than Mr. Khan, could quickly and easily gain access to the top of the perimeter, wall for any purpose. Such access is clearly dangerous.