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'Terrible tragedy' of rifle death | 'Terrible tragedy' of rifle death |
(30 minutes later) | |
A teenager told a friend: "Careful where you're pointing that rifle", moments before he was accidentally shot in the heart, an inquest has been told. | A teenager told a friend: "Careful where you're pointing that rifle", moments before he was accidentally shot in the heart, an inquest has been told. |
The air rifle went off, and Daniel Marsh, 17, was shot in the heart. | The air rifle went off, and Daniel Marsh, 17, was shot in the heart. |
A coroner called it "a terrible tragedy" as he recorded a misadventure verdict at the inquest in Newport. | A coroner called it "a terrible tragedy" as he recorded a misadventure verdict at the inquest in Newport. |
Daniel's cousin Aaron Marsh, 17, and friend Mark Drew, 19, were arrested but no further action is to be taken, the hearing was told. | Daniel's cousin Aaron Marsh, 17, and friend Mark Drew, 19, were arrested but no further action is to be taken, the hearing was told. |
Mr Drew was holding the gun at the time, the inquest heard. | Mr Drew was holding the gun at the time, the inquest heard. |
The accident happened on 12 November last year in the Maesglas area of Newport. | The accident happened on 12 November last year in the Maesglas area of Newport. |
I hope it will serve as a lesson that you should only buy and service such weapons with a registered gunsmith Gwent coroner David Bowen | I hope it will serve as a lesson that you should only buy and service such weapons with a registered gunsmith Gwent coroner David Bowen |
The inquest was told how the young men had been modifying the air rifle. | The inquest was told how the young men had been modifying the air rifle. |
They had taken it apart and put penny coins in it, in a bid to increase the shooting distance. | They had taken it apart and put penny coins in it, in a bid to increase the shooting distance. |
The hearing was told that Mr Drew was holding the rifle when Daniel said: "Careful where you're pointing that rifle" and it went off. | The hearing was told that Mr Drew was holding the rifle when Daniel said: "Careful where you're pointing that rifle" and it went off. |
Daniel said: "You shot me" and ran out of the shed for help collapsing on the road outside, the inquest heard. | Daniel said: "You shot me" and ran out of the shed for help collapsing on the road outside, the inquest heard. |
The court was also told the two other young men were arrested by police but that no further action would be taken against them. | The court was also told the two other young men were arrested by police but that no further action would be taken against them. |
Police outside the house where the accident happened | Police outside the house where the accident happened |
Det Sgt Sam Payne told the inquest: "Mark said he had been wiggling the trigger because it was hard to pull - but he didn't think there were any pellets in the rifle." | Det Sgt Sam Payne told the inquest: "Mark said he had been wiggling the trigger because it was hard to pull - but he didn't think there were any pellets in the rifle." |
The inquest heard that Aaron Marsh had bought the rifle from a friend two days before. | The inquest heard that Aaron Marsh had bought the rifle from a friend two days before. |
The three friends spent the day playing with the rifle at a local tip, using bottles for target practice. | The three friends spent the day playing with the rifle at a local tip, using bottles for target practice. |
They went to the shed to modify the gun to make it more powerful. | They went to the shed to modify the gun to make it more powerful. |
The gun's trigger guard had been removed at the time of the shooting, the hearing was told. | The gun's trigger guard had been removed at the time of the shooting, the hearing was told. |
Powerful | Powerful |
Recording his verdict, Gwent coroner David Bowen said: "There was an atmosphere of frivolity so perhaps it is not surprising they had forgotten the gun was loaded. | Recording his verdict, Gwent coroner David Bowen said: "There was an atmosphere of frivolity so perhaps it is not surprising they had forgotten the gun was loaded. |
"Although they were aware the gun was powerful enough to kill a rabbit they had never thought it could cause the death of a human. | "Although they were aware the gun was powerful enough to kill a rabbit they had never thought it could cause the death of a human. |
"This is a terrible tragedy for everyone involved," added the coroner. | |
"I hope it will serve as a lesson that you should only buy and service such weapons with a registered gunsmith." | "I hope it will serve as a lesson that you should only buy and service such weapons with a registered gunsmith." |
Roger James, representing Daniel's family, said after the hearing: "They are very disappointed that no charges were ever brought over his death." | Roger James, representing Daniel's family, said after the hearing: "They are very disappointed that no charges were ever brought over his death." |
• A two-day gun amnesty was held in Newport last December at the request of residents and backed by Daniel's family. | • A two-day gun amnesty was held in Newport last December at the request of residents and backed by Daniel's family. |