The father of a British tourist who died in a police cell in Brazil in 2007 has made an impassioned plea to the Foreign Secretary David Miliband in an open letter.

Desperate Joe Juwaheer, of Carshalton Beeches, has taken the measure to ask Mr Miliband for his intervention as his struggle to bring the Brazilian authorities to justice intensifies.

His appeal comes after Brazilian police alleged Neil, 35, a former estate agent, died of a drug overdose, but a report produced by independent Brazilian pathologist Dr George Sanguinetti found he had been beaten to death.

The family, along with their MP for Carshalton and Wallington Tom Brake, have previously called on the FCO to help put pressure on the Brazilian authorities, but feel they have been met with little or no help.

This week we have published Mr Juwaheer’s compelling letter in the hope talks will not be stalled and that Mr Miliband will listen and begin to act, to secure justice for Neil.

THE LETTER Dear Mr Miliband, I am sorry to say the Foreign Office has failed me and my family.

My son died while in the custody of Brazilian police and an independent, and eminent, Brazilian pathologist concluded he was unlawfully killed.

I have grown increasingly dismayed with the Brazilian jurisdiction and it is difficult to maintain any confidence that the outcome, whenever it may arrive, will be fair and transparent.

It is sad that despite all our efforts and evidence the Foreign Office has been uncouth and unsympathetic to our pleas for help.

It makes me wonder why such people we trust in can be so heartless.

I wonder if they would act the same if they had lost one of their relatives. Such tactless attitude is unheard of.

Our request for a meeting is simple: we feel our concerns should be listened to.

Dr Sanguinetti is utterly disappointed that 15 months after his report the judge has failed to see him.

During the past two years of pain and frustration, I have avoided seeking publicity for my own son’s case.

I appreciated the risk of this matter becoming a political football between the UK and Brazil, at least in the press, but such restraint should have brought better reward.

I am now instructing a second set of Brazilian lawyers, at a cost I will struggle to maintain for much longer.

Mr Miliband I urge you to press the Brazilian authorities to get justice for my son.

Please help me as, since my son’s death, my wife and I have been ill and distressed.

Neil’s death has caused a huge gap in our lives that can never be filled.

There will be no recourse until full justice is done.

Joe Juwaheer

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