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Policeman '100% sure' Mark Duggan was holding gun | Policeman '100% sure' Mark Duggan was holding gun |
(35 minutes later) | |
The police officer who shot Mark Duggan in north London has told a court he was "absolutely 100%" sure the 29-year-old was holding a gun. | The police officer who shot Mark Duggan in north London has told a court he was "absolutely 100%" sure the 29-year-old was holding a gun. |
The marksman, identified only as V53, said he could make out the shape of the gun, which he said Mr Duggan was holding in his right hand. | The marksman, identified only as V53, said he could make out the shape of the gun, which he said Mr Duggan was holding in his right hand. |
V53 was giving evidence in the trial of Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, 30, at Snaresbrook Crown Court. | V53 was giving evidence in the trial of Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, 30, at Snaresbrook Crown Court. |
Mr Hutchinson-Foster denies giving Mr Duggan an illegal handgun. | Mr Hutchinson-Foster denies giving Mr Duggan an illegal handgun. |
Giving evidence from behind a screen, V53 said he was "approximately five metres" away from Mr Duggan when the two shots were fired. | |
Explaining why he "rapidly acquired shoot procedure", he said: "I saw him hold the gun in his right hand, side-on to his stomach, and begin to move the barrel away from his body. | |
"I perceived this to be the beginning of him raising the gun into the aim position, whereby he would shoot at me or one of my colleagues. | |
"I had an honest-held belief that Mark Duggan was going to shoot me or one of my colleagues, so I brought my MP5 (sub-machine gun) up to the shooting position." | |
Speaking about the shooting in Tottenham, north London, on 4 August 2011, the police marksman said: "August 4 will always be in my head. | |
'Shoot to stop' | |
"It's very clear, even now." | "It's very clear, even now." |
The officer, who has 15 years' experience, said he had been on "hundreds" of operations and was aware that criminals sometimes use a sock to conceal a handgun. | |
He said there was a black sock covering the firearm Mark Duggan was carrying. | |
He said officers were trained to "shoot to stop" and Mr Duggan was shot after he left the minicab he was travelling in. | |
The Metropolitan Police officer said: "The gun was still in his hand as I fired the round which impacted on his right chest." | |
Mr Duggan then made "a flinching movement" which V53 said caused his body to move to the right. | |
He added: "He's still holding the gun, and the gun is pointing towards my direction. | |
"I'm thinking he's going to shoot me or one of my colleagues so I fire a second round of my MP5. | |
"This has hit him on his right bicep. | |
"Mark Duggan then fell to the floor. I then closed the suspect down." | |
The gun was no longer in his hand and the officer said he heard another armed officer, identified only as W42, say "I'm hit, I'm hit". |