Taiwan's High Court has cleared New Taipei police of blame for a man's death after officers pinned him down, a defeat for the family and a win for the police department.

• A man died in 2020 after officers restrained him at a betel nut shop in New Taipei's Xinzhuang district.
• Officers sprayed him with pepper spray, dragged him outside, cuffed his hands behind his back, and knelt on his head, neck, back and legs for about ten minutes.
• He went into shock at the scene and died nine days later from kidney failure, muscle breakdown, respiratory failure and brain damage from lack of oxygen.
• The family sought 6.59 million Taiwan dollars from the police, but both the district court and the High Court found no clear link between the restraint and the death.
• The High Court ruled the pepper spray and cuffing followed police powers rules and were not improper.

Outlook: The family can still appeal, so the case may go to Taiwan's Supreme Court.