THE brother of a man who was killed by an unmarked police car has described the days since his death as a week of “torment, stress and utter frustration”.
Karl Holscher-Ermert, 30, was speaking at a protest he organised yesterday for his brother Arthur Holscher-Ermert.
The 27-year-old died last Saturday, April 30, after being hit by an unmarked BMW on the A259 at Bramber Avenue in Peacehaven.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that Mr Holscher-Ermert was driving an Audi which was being pursued by another police car after it came to the attention of officers conducting the operation in the Newhaven and Peacehaven area.
Police said the short chase ended in Bramber Avenue where Arthur Holscher-Ermert left the Audi and was struck moments later by the second police vehicle, a black BMW, which had not been involved in the pursuit.
Sussex Police said they are "providing every assistance" to the IOPC to conduct a "thorough investigation" and "for the family to receive the answers they need".
Karl Holscher-Ermert told The Argus: “It has been a week of torment, stress and utter frustration at the process of what the police are doing. We have not been able to grieve.
“We’re seven days down the line now, no one has been suspended.
“This crowd shows how this has hit the community. The public need to know what is happening here and what has happened.
“Sussex Police need to see their flaws, accept them and sort them out.”
Kaspar Ermert, their cousin, flew over from Cologne in western Germany for the protest.
He said: “We’re one family, we have to do everything we can to get justice. We want to make this case popular also in Germany and over Europe.
“We have to stop this. As a family, we couldn’t believe. We can’t believe it. As a family we are crying all the time, the rest of the family are so upset.
“My mum is crying, she loved him so much. She saw him last year. We’re all one family, we are one human family and shouldn’t have this happen.”
Yesterday, hundreds gathered in Lewes to protest at the death of Arthur Holscher-Ermert last Saturday.
On Friday, a Sussex Police constable was formally notified by the IOPC that he is under criminal investigation for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
The officer will also be investigated for potential gross misconduct.
As part of the investigation, the IOPC will be investigating the claims from eyewitnesses that Mr Holscher-Ermert was handcuffed after being struck.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "We were aware of a planned protest which took place outside Sussex Police headquarters and continued on to Lewes Police Station on Saturday, May 7.
"We understand the strength of feeling following the tragic death of Arthur Holscher-Ermert, and we are providing every assistance to the IOPC to allow for a thorough investigation and for the family to receive the answers they need.
"Our thoughts are with Arthur’s family and friends and we would ask the public to allow for the investigation to take its course."
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