Death of David Oluwale
| Date | April 1969 |
|---|---|
| Location | Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Cause | Drowning |
| Burial | Killingbeck Cemetery, Leeds |
| Accused |
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| Charges | |
| Verdict | Both cleared of manslaughter, perjury and GBH by direction of the judge. Both found guilty of ABH. |
| Convictions |
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David Oluwale (1930–1969) was a British Nigerian who drowned in the River Aire in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1969. The circumstances surrounding his death have been described as "the physical and psychological destruction of a homeless Black man, whose brutal and systematic harassment was orchestrated by the Leeds City Police Force". His death resulted in the first successful prosecution of British police officers for involvement in the death of a Black person.
Oluwale's life, experiences, and death have had a lasting impact on public discourse concerning systemic racism within British legal institutions, police misconduct, social inequality, and mental health policy. He has been the subject of artworks, books, and documentaries, and is commemorated by a blue plaque in Leeds.