Police called to help Briscoe, inmate says ALICE Springs police ignored a plea to help Kwementyaye Briscoe on the night he died in custody, an inquest has heard. A man in a cell near where Mr Briscoe died on January 5, told an inquest today that he heard Mr Briscoe groaning and gasping for air, ABC radio reports. He told the inquest that although he asked police on several occasions to check on Mr Briscoe, his requests were ignored, according to the report. The death of Mr Briscoe sparked protests in Alice Springs and elsewhere. Another man arrested with Mr Briscoe has publicly claimed he saw police push him to the ground and sit on him hours before he died. The inquest, before NT Coroner Greg Cavanagh, is continuing, with police expected to give evidence next week.