A heartbreaking inquest revealed the tragic death of Osagie Harrison Aimiyekagbon, affectionately known as ‘Harry’, who was fatally stabbed by his housemate in July 2023. Greater Manchester Police call handler, Rebecca Waterton, emotionally testified, saying, “I did my best,” after she was questioned for categorising Harry’s 999 call as ‘low risk’ just hours before his death.
Harry, a beloved 36-year-old security officer nicknamed ‘the dancing doorman’, had reached out to police multiple times, reporting death threats from his housemate, Samuel Opokiti. Despite his pleas, the calls were marked as low priority, a decision Ms Waterton said was based on her belief that neither Harry nor his young son were at immediate risk.
In court, it was revealed that Harry’s call was classified as a ‘grade C’, usually involving slower police response times. He had shared fears about his son’s safety and past threats involving a knife, yet the call was not escalated. Waterton was visibly distressed during her testimony, asserting that she had followed protocol and advised Harry to avoid his housemate and call back if the situation worsened.
The situation took a deadly turn when police were summoned to their Levenshulme home, discovering Harry with lethal stab wounds. The tragic case has left many questioning how emergency calls are assessed and prioritised.
Samuel Opokiti, diagnosed with schizophrenia, has since been sentenced to a hospital order, marking a grim close to the case. This heartbreaking story sheds light on the critical need for reform in handling emergency calls, as families grieve and seek answers.