Private funeral for reggae star who died during police raid (From Streatham Guardian)

Private funeral for reggae star Smiley Culture who died during police raid

3:52pm Thursday 7th April 2011 in News By Thais Portilho-Shrimpton

A private funeral for family and close friends only will be held for a reggae star who died during a police raid.

David Emmanuel, 48, better known as Smiley Culture, will be laid to rest at an undisclosed location and date, his nephew Merlin Emmanuel told the Streatham Guardian.

He said: “The funeral is going to be a private, dignified one, for family and close friends only. The family don’t want it to be a circus – they want it to be peaceful and dignified.

“We will be holding a memorial service shortly after that for everyone.”

Mr Emmanuel also spoke about how the artist’s family are coping with his death and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.

He said: “The family are grieving, everybody is grieving. People grieve in different ways. We’re all there to each other and that helps. The support from the public is really helpful too.

“I’m personally trying to keep my mind busy by running the Campaign for Justice (CfJ).”

Mr Emmanuel said Smiley Culture was born in the Lansdowne Green estate and grew up around the Ferndale Road area, Brixton. He went to Tulse Hill Secondary School and as a teenager developed an interest in music.

He died at his home in Warligham during a police raid on March 15 and an investigation into his death has been launched.

The CfJ march will be held on April 16. It will leave the Southbank Club, Wandsworth Road, at 12.30pm and proceed to New Scotland Yard, Victoria.

Mr Emmanuel, who will speak on the day, said: “I’m expecting to see people unite and I’m expecting a peaceful, effective day.”

Do you know Smiley Culture from his days in Streatham? Contact us on 020 8722 6337