biko s coffin featured motif of clenched black fist. many in black consciousness movement used fist symbol.
speaking publicly biko s death, country s police minister jimmy kruger implied had been result of hunger strike, statement later denied. account challenged of biko s friends, including woods, said biko had told them never kill himself in prison. publicly, stated biko had been plotting violence, claim repeated in pro-government press. south africa s attorney general stated no 1 prosecuted biko s death. 2 weeks after funeral, government banned black consciousness organisations, including bcp, had assets seized.
both domestic , international pressure called public inquest held, government agreed. began in pretoria s old synagogue courthouse in november 1977, , lasted 3 weeks. both running of inquest , quality of evidence submitted came in extensive criticism. observer lawyers committee civil rights under law stated affidavit s statements redundant, inconsistent, ambiguous ; david napley described police investigation of incident perfunctory in extreme . security forces alleged biko had acted aggressively , had sustained injuries in scuffle, in had banged head against cell wall. presiding magistrate accepted security forces account of events , refused prosecute of involved.
the verdict treated scepticism of international media , u.s. government of president jimmy carter. on 2 february 1978, based on evidence given @ inquest, attorney general of eastern cape stated not prosecute officers. after inquest, biko s family brought civil case against state; @ advice of lawyers, agreed settlement of r65,000 (us$78,000) in july 1979. shortly after inquest, south african medical , dental council initiated proceedings against medical professionals had been entrusted biko s care; 8 years later 2 of medics found guilty of improper conduct. failure of government-employed doctors diagnose or treat biko s injuries has been cited example of repressive state influencing medical practitioners decisions, , biko s death evidence of need doctors serve needs of patients before of state.
after abolition of apartheid , establishment of majority government in 1994, truth , reconciliation commission established investigate past human-rights abuses. commission made plans investigate biko s death, family petitioned against on grounds commission grant amnesty responsible, thereby preventing family s right justice , redress. in 1996, constitutional court ruled against family, allowing investigation proceed. 5 police officers (harold snyman, gideon nieuwoudt, ruben marx, daantjie siebert, , johan beneke) appeared before commission , requested amnesty in return information events surrounding biko s death. in december 1998, commission refused amnesty 5 men; because accounts conflicting , deemed untruthful, , because biko s killing had no clear political motive, seemed have been motivated ill-will or spite . in october 2003, south africa s justice ministry announced 5 policemen not prosecuted because statute of limitations had elapsed , there insufficient evidence secure prosecution.
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