Reggae star Smiley Culture plunged a carving knife into his own chest during a police drugs raid on his home, a detective told a court yesterday.

Detective Constable Stuart Hobkirk told Croydon Crown Court the musician - real name David Emanuel - stabbed himself in front of officers at his Warlingham home on March 15.

Mr Emanuel, who grew up in Tulse Hill, was already due to stand trial for conspiracy to supply cocaine before police executed the search warrant, which D Con Hobkirk confirmed was related to new information regarding importation of drugs.

He told the court the raid involved the same team of officers who helped bring the first drugs charge against Mr Emanuel.

The initial charge will remain on file, but proceedings against the 48-year-old have been dropped in the wake of his death.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation has been launched into the raid, with Mr Emanuel’s family calling for a public inquiry into what happened on the day.

Hundreds of people packed out at Lambeth Assembly Hall on March 24 to hear an update on the investigation from IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin.

The angry crowd listened intently to Mr Franklin, who gave some details of the IPCC investigation into the Mr Emmanuel’s death, but booed and shouted “murderers” at every mention of police officers.

Mr Franklin said: “The community demands the truth and I’m seeking the truth, but I need your support in this process.

“I long for peace and I know we have to have justice before we can have it.”

The commissioner told the meeting the lack of independent witnesses was a hurdle to the IPCC’s investigation, which could only be overcome by extensive forensic examination.

The popular musican’s nephew, Merlin Emmanuel, said the family had hired solicitors and a coroner to carry out a second post mortem examination on Mr Emmanuel’s body.

Social justice campaigner Lee Jasper, who chaired the meeting, urged people to join the Facebook group Campaign 4 Justice 4 Smiley Culture, which already has more than 5,000 members.

A march is also due to take place from Wandsworth Road station to Scotland Yard on April 16.