Sheku Bayoh Inquiry: Timeline
Key dates in the inquiry's progress, assembled from its recorded milestones and hearing phases.
Hearing-phase dates are taken from the published hearing days; some earlier milestone dates are approximate where the inquiry has not published an exact date.
Milestones & hearing phases
Milestone
Hearing phase
Reports & costs
Still to come
Inquiry Announced
Lord Advocate announced a public inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh.
Chair Appointed
Lord Bracadale appointed as Chair of the Inquiry.
Evidential hearings
80 sitting days
Procedural / preliminary hearing
1 sitting day
Chair resigns
Lord Bracadale resigned as Chair, stating the best interests of the inquiry would be served by a new chair; counsel to the inquiry also departed.
New chair takes office
Lord Colbeck took up appointment as Chair, announced by Scottish Ministers on 14 January 2026.
Final report (to be confirmed)
The inquiry has not yet reported.