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Azelle Rodney death: Police had no justification for shooting Azelle Rodney death: 'No justification' for police shooting
(35 minutes later)
Police had no lawful justification when they shot dead a 24-year-old man in north London eight years ago, an inquiry has found. Police had no lawful justification for shooting dead a 24-year-old man in north London eight years ago, an inquiry has found.
Azelle Rodney was shot six times in Edgware after the car he was in was stopped by police in 2005. Azelle Rodney was shot six times in Edgware after the car he was in was stopped by Met Police officers in 2005.
One officer, known as E7, claimed he believed Mr Rodney was reaching for a gun before he opened fire. One officer, known only as E7, who said he opened fire because he believed Mr Rodney was reaching for a gun could face criminal charges.
But the report said the officer "could not rationally have believed" that Mr Rodney had picked up a firearm. Mr Rodney's mother, Susan Alexander, has demanded an apology from the Met.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "I have read the findings carefully and want to express my personal sympathy to Mr Rodney's family. Former High Court judge Sir Christopher Holland has released his findings following the public inquiry into the death.
He said E7 "could not rationally have believed" that Mr Rodney had picked up a firearm.
Ms Alexander said the report backed her view that her son was executed.
"The police owe me an apology for the unlawful killing of my son," she said.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) had referred the case against E7 to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
'Career criminal'
"I have read the findings carefully and want to express my personal sympathy to Mr Rodney's family," Mr Hogan-Howe said.
"The Met Police Service deeply regrets his death, and I recognise how distressing the inquiry must have been for them.""The Met Police Service deeply regrets his death, and I recognise how distressing the inquiry must have been for them."
Former High Court judge Sir Christopher Holland released his findings following the public inquiry into the death. Mr Rodney, who was described in the report as a "mid-level career criminal", was killed when the VW Golf he was in was stopped by police who had it under surveillance for several hours.
Mr Rodney was killed when the VW Golf in which he was travelling was stopped by police after it had been under surveillance for several hours.
E7 told the inquiry he opened fire after fearing the gang had a sub-machine gun in the car.E7 told the inquiry he opened fire after fearing the gang had a sub-machine gun in the car.
Three guns were found in the Golf - a Colt .45 calibre pistol, a Baikal pistol and a smaller gun that was described as looking like a key fob. 'Naked, violent aggression'
Lawyers for Mr Rodney's mother Susan Alexander claimed he was the victim of "naked, violent aggression" and was unlawfully killed. Three guns were found in the Golf - a Colt .45 calibre pistol, a Baikal pistol and a smaller gun described as looking like a key fob.
Lawyers for Ms Alexander claimed he was the victim of "naked, violent aggression" and was unlawfully killed.
During the inquiry, Sir Christopher considered issues including what information the police team had, how reliable it was, whether their approach minimised the risk to life, and if stopping the car was done with only the necessary force.
He said: "There was no lawful justification for shooting Azelle Rodney so as to kill him.
He added: "E7's accounts of what he saw are not to be accepted.
"Prior to firing he did not believe that the man who turned out to be Azelle Rodney had picked up a gun and was about to use it.
"Further, on the basis of what he was able to see, he could not rationally have believed that."
E7 has written to the inquiry to claim that the findings against him are "irrational".
Mr Hogan-Howe added that firearms officers faced "serious challenges".
He said he was anxious the report did not "undermine the confidence of officers to act decisively when making split-second decisions in the face of the most dangerous criminals as recently seen in Woolwich".