This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/08/mark-duggan-lawfully-killed-inquest

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mark Duggan lawfully killed, inquest finds Mark Duggan family reacts with fury to inquest verdict of lawful killing
(35 minutes later)
Mark Duggan did not have a gun in his hand when he was shot dead by police, having thrown the weapon away when the taxi he was in was stopped, but was lawfully killed, an inquest jury ruled on Wednesday. Mark Duggan's family reacted with fury as an inquest jury ruled on Wednesday that he had been lawfully killed but had not had a gun in his hand when confronted by officers.
There were angry scenes in court as Duggan's family reacted to the lawful killing verdict over the death of the 29-year-old, which came after armed officers forced a cab he was travelling in to stop, based on intelligence that he was part of a gang and had collected a gun. By a majority of eight to two, the jury ruled that the 2011 shooting that sparked the worst riots in modern English history was lawful.
Duggan's mother, Pam, collapsed in court on hearing the findings of the jury and Mark Duggan's brother Marlon shouted at the jury as they left the courtroom. The jury said they were sure, by the same eight-to-two majority, that Duggan did not have a weapon in his hands when police surrounded him. By a majority, the jury concluded he "threw" the gun from a cab he was travelling in when armed officers forced it to stop.
The jury of 10 people recorded an 8-2 majority ruling that the killing was lawful. Duggan's mother, Pam, collapsed in court on hearing the finding and his brother Marlon shouted at the seven men and three women on the jury as they left the courtroom.
The Metropolitan police shooting in north London on 4 August 2011 triggered the worst riots in modern English history. The officers had intercepted the 29-year-old in an operation based on intelligence that he was part of a gang and had collected a gun. He was being followed by officers who believed he planned to pick up a gun from another man, Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, and then move on to Broadwater Farm, also in Tottenham.
The jury said police had not done enough to gather and react to intelligence about the possibility of Duggan collecting a gun from Hutchinson-Foster.
But they found that the car had been stopped in a location and in a way that "minimised to the greatest extent possible recourse to lethal force".
The Metropolitan police shooting in north London on 4 August 2011 sparked the worst riots in modern English history.
The inquest, which began in September, was told by police that Duggan was shot twice after he produced a gun when surrounded by armed officers.The inquest, which began in September, was told by police that Duggan was shot twice after he produced a gun when surrounded by armed officers.
The narrative verdict was delivered at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, where the inquest took place after the jury had deliberated for six-and-a-half days. They were originally sent out on December 11, 2013. They broke for two weeks for the Christmas and new year holidays. The narrative verdict was delivered at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, where the inquest took place after the jury had deliberated for six and a half days. They were originally sent out on 11 December 2013. They broke for two weeks for the Christmas and new year holidays.
Duggan died "within 10 heartbeats" of a bullet striking his aorta. The jury was told police believed Duggan was a member of TMD, Tottenham Man Dem, which officers believed had links to guns used in nightclubs.Duggan died "within 10 heartbeats" of a bullet striking his aorta. The jury was told police believed Duggan was a member of TMD, Tottenham Man Dem, which officers believed had links to guns used in nightclubs.
The officer who shot Duggan twice, known as V53, testified he had seen a gun in Duggan's right hand, and believed the suspect was preparing to use it. V53 said he had acted in self-defence, fearing that his own life or the lives of his colleagues were in danger from Duggan.The officer who shot Duggan twice, known as V53, testified he had seen a gun in Duggan's right hand, and believed the suspect was preparing to use it. V53 said he had acted in self-defence, fearing that his own life or the lives of his colleagues were in danger from Duggan.
The key issue for the jury was whether Duggan was holding a gun, as the marksman said, when he exited the cab and came face to face with armed police.The key issue for the jury was whether Duggan was holding a gun, as the marksman said, when he exited the cab and came face to face with armed police.
V53 and a second officer, W70, told the jury they had both seen Duggan holding a gun but were surprised when they could not find it later.V53 and a second officer, W70, told the jury they had both seen Duggan holding a gun but were surprised when they could not find it later.
In fact, a gun, wrapped in a sock, was found on the other side of a fence 3-6 metres (10-20ft) away from where the fatally injured Duggan fell to the pavement, the jury heard. The gun was capable of being fired but had not been "racked", so was not ready to fire. In fact, a gun, wrapped in a sock, was found on the other side of a fence three to six metres (10-20ft) away from where the fatally injured Duggan fell to the pavement, the jury heard. The gun was capable of being fired but had not been "racked", so was not ready to fire.
Neither the gun nor the sock had any DNA or fingerprints from Duggan on it. Gun residue was also absent from the deceased, save for a speck in his back pocket which the jury was told was scientifically irrelevant. His fingerprints were on a shoebox found inside the cab in which it is believed the gun had been stored, and traces of the drug ecstasy were in his bloodstream.Neither the gun nor the sock had any DNA or fingerprints from Duggan on it. Gun residue was also absent from the deceased, save for a speck in his back pocket which the jury was told was scientifically irrelevant. His fingerprints were on a shoebox found inside the cab in which it is believed the gun had been stored, and traces of the drug ecstasy were in his bloodstream.
The jury was asked whether Duggan could have been holding a mobile phone when he left the cab. Seconds before the cab was made to stop, Duggan had held a three-minute conversation with his brother Marlon. One witness claimed he had seen the shooting from 150 metres away and claimed Duggan was shot while surrendering with a mobile phone in his hand.In the days before the shooting, the Met had received intelligence from the Serious Organised Crime Agency about TMD. It ran a four-day operation codenamed Dibri targeting six members of the gang, one of whom was Duggan. The jury was asked whether Duggan could have been holding a mobile phone when he left the cab. Seconds before the cab was made to stop, Duggan had held a three-minute conversation with his brother Marlon. One witness claimed he had seen the shooting from 150 metres away and claimed Duggan was shot while surrendering with a mobile phone in his hand.
That intelligence led to Duggan being placed under surveillance, as officers were said to have feared he would try to get a gun from a man called Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, who was later convicted at a criminal trial of supplying Duggan with the gun. In the days before the shooting, the Met had received intelligence from the Serious Organised Crime Agency about TMD. It ran a four-day operation codenamed Dibri targeting six members of the gang, one of whom was Duggan.
That intelligence led to Duggan being placed under surveillance, as officers were said to have feared he would try to get a gun from Hutchinson-Foster, who was later convicted at a criminal trial of supplying Duggan with the gun.
On his last night alive Duggan attended a family barbecue, and in court his relatives heard the details of his death.On his last night alive Duggan attended a family barbecue, and in court his relatives heard the details of his death.
Intelligence was still developing as Duggan travelled in a cab to east London, where police suspected he was planning to collect the gun.Intelligence was still developing as Duggan travelled in a cab to east London, where police suspected he was planning to collect the gun.
Firearms officers deployed to stop Duggan were then told he had already collected it. The police then used a "hard stop" – boxing in the taxi and forcing it to come to an abrupt halt – a "shock and awe" tactic designed to stun the occupants into submission and compliance, said Ashley Underwood QC, counsel to the inquest.Firearms officers deployed to stop Duggan were then told he had already collected it. The police then used a "hard stop" – boxing in the taxi and forcing it to come to an abrupt halt – a "shock and awe" tactic designed to stun the occupants into submission and compliance, said Ashley Underwood QC, counsel to the inquest.
Two shots were fired rapidly by the marksman. The first shot struck Duggan in one of his biceps. The second, entering through the chest and exiting his back, killed the father of four.Two shots were fired rapidly by the marksman. The first shot struck Duggan in one of his biceps. The second, entering through the chest and exiting his back, killed the father of four.
Underwood said: "The chest wound would have been fatal within about 10 heart beats … but it would not necessarily have stopped somebody moving then and there."Underwood said: "The chest wound would have been fatal within about 10 heart beats … but it would not necessarily have stopped somebody moving then and there."
Armed officers and police chiefs have been critical of the length of time investigations into police shootings take. The Met says that by April 2014, firearms officers will wear small video cameras with the aim of clearly showing what happened and to help shorten investigation times. Armed officers and police chiefs have been critical of the length of time investigations into police shootings take. The Met says that by April 2014, firearms officers will wear small video cameras with the aim of clearly showing what has happened and to help shorten investigation times.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.