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Damages deal over Ashley shooting Damages deal over Ashley shooting
(10 minutes later)
Lawyers for the family of James Ashley, who was shot dead by police while he was naked and unarmed, say they have agreed damages with Sussex Police.Lawyers for the family of James Ashley, who was shot dead by police while he was naked and unarmed, say they have agreed damages with Sussex Police.
In a statement, lawyers for the family said police had admitted Mr Ashley, 39, was "killed as a result of police negligence and therefore unlawfully".In a statement, lawyers for the family said police had admitted Mr Ashley, 39, was "killed as a result of police negligence and therefore unlawfully".
Lawyers said there was a series of failures by police and shortcomings in how the death in Hastings was handled. Lawyers said there was a series of failures over the death in Hastings.
Sussex Police are due to issue a statement on Wednesday afternoon. Sussex Police said the force would pay compensation and apologise, but had not admitted unlawful killing.
Lawyers for the Ashley family issued a five-point statement which they said was agreed with Sussex Police. The death of James Ashley was a tragedy which should never have occurred Sussex Police
There were serious shortcomings in the way in which Sussex Police handled the aftermath of Mr Ashley's death Lawyers for the Ashley family A statement issued by the force said the officer who fired the fatal shot had mistakenly believed his own life and that of another officer were in danger.
It said that on 15 January 1998, during an armed raid on his flat in St Leonards, Mr Ashley was shot dead by Pc Sherwood, an officer from the Sussex Police Special Operations Unit. It said police had admitted negligence and reached a settlement with the family.
Mr Ashley was naked and unarmed at the time that he was shot, and there was nothing illegal in his flat, the statement continued. "Sussex Police wishes to reiterate that the death of James Ashley was a tragedy which should never have occurred and it was caused by a series of failures at levels of Sussex Police in relation to events prior to the raid and its planning and execution," it added.
His death was a tragedy which should never have occurred, lawyers said. "Sussex Police also acknowledges that there were serious shortcomings in the way in which the aftermath of Mr Ashley's death was handled."
"The death of Mr Ashley was caused amongst other things by a series of failures at different levels of Sussex Police in relation to events prior to the raid, and in its planning and execution," the statement said.
It concluded: "There were serious shortcomings in the way in which Sussex Police handled the aftermath of Mr Ashley's death."
'Darkened room''Darkened room'
Mr Ashley was in bed when officers burst into his flat at 0400 GMT. The statement said the force had not made any admissions that Mr Ashley was unlawfully killed on 15 January, 1998.
It said Pc Sherwood, an officer from the Sussex Police Special Operations Unit, had always maintained he acted in self defence and was acquitted of murder and manslaughter in the crown court.
Mr Ashley's family statement stressed that Mr Ashley had been naked and unarmed at the time that he was shot, and there was nothing illegal in his flat.
Mr Ashley was in bed when officers burst into his home at 0400 GMT.
He was shot in front of his girlfriend after incorrect intelligence reports suggested he might be armed.He was shot in front of his girlfriend after incorrect intelligence reports suggested he might be armed.
When an armed police officer stepped into the darkened room he thought Mr Ashley was attacking him, and shot him at close range.When an armed police officer stepped into the darkened room he thought Mr Ashley was attacking him, and shot him at close range.
Mr Ashley's girlfriend Caroline Courtland-Smith later said the 39-year-old had been walking towards the door to investigate noises they had heard. Mr Ashley's girlfriend Caroline Courtland-Smith later said he had been walking towards the door to investigate noises they had heard.
His family has been seeking an apology from the Sussex force for more than a decade.His family has been seeking an apology from the Sussex force for more than a decade.