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Cherry Groce inquest: Officer said pain was 'like having a baby' Cherry Groce inquest: Officer said pain was 'like having a baby'
(about 1 hour later)
A mother shot by police in a raid which sparked the 1985 Brixton riots, was told her injury was "just like having a baby", an inquest has heard. A mother shot by police in a raid which sparked the 1985 Brixton riots was told her injury was "just like having a baby", an inquest has heard.
Dorothy "Cherry" Groce was shot in the shoulder and left paralysed from the waist down, after the raid by officers looking for her son. She died in 2011.Dorothy "Cherry" Groce was shot in the shoulder and left paralysed from the waist down, after the raid by officers looking for her son. She died in 2011.
In a statement taken after the shooting, she said she asked if she would die and was told by an officer: "No, it's just like having a baby".In a statement taken after the shooting, she said she asked if she would die and was told by an officer: "No, it's just like having a baby".
The inquest is listed for eight days.The inquest is listed for eight days.
In the statement read out at Southwark Coroner's Court, Mrs Groce said that as she lay bleeding, police continued to shout at her.In the statement read out at Southwark Coroner's Court, Mrs Groce said that as she lay bleeding, police continued to shout at her.
They asked her if she knew where one of her sons, Michael was, as they were searching for him in connection with an armed robbery.They asked her if she knew where one of her sons, Michael was, as they were searching for him in connection with an armed robbery.
No charges over the robbery or subsequent riot were brought against him.No charges over the robbery or subsequent riot were brought against him.
The court heard how Mrs Groce thought the rushing feet she heard in her home, was her daughter having an epileptic fit.The court heard how Mrs Groce thought the rushing feet she heard in her home, was her daughter having an epileptic fit.
But when she checked on her, several police officers barged into her bedroom, knocked her to the side and one shot her.But when she checked on her, several police officers barged into her bedroom, knocked her to the side and one shot her.
"He was aiming the gun at me. He didn't say anything.""He was aiming the gun at me. He didn't say anything."
She thought she was being attacked by armed robbers posing as police but realised they were genuine officers, the court heard. 'Unholstered revolvers'
After she was shot, her 11-year-old son Lee Lawrence, who had been sleeping in the same bed as his mother, began screaming hysterically. Insp Douglas Lovelock, the police marksman who shot Mrs Groce, described to the jury how a dog handler smashed down the front door and he went up to the hallway, shouting "armed police" until he reached a door that was ajar.
'Deep breath' He said: "I kicked it and went in. We had already unholstered our revolvers and I went in in a crouch position and almost immediately there was this figure upon me.
He shouted: "If you shoot my mum again you'll be dead", the court heard. "I saw the flash and the next thing is Mrs Groce is on the ground.
Her statement continued: "A police officer bent over me, took my hand and said I would be OK and called an ambulance on his walkie talkie." "I dropped down to her eyes thinking 'I hope to Christ it is shock and I have missed'."
She added: "I then remember I started choking and the police officer told me I must take a deep breath." The officer, who has now retired, said he checked to see if Mrs Groce was hurt.
"I was trying desperately to find out if she was injured and I felt some sort of dampness underneath her back," he said.
"And quite frankly, from that moment on, I was a waste. I was in a daze."
The inquest jury is looking at the planning of the police raid and how the events of that day may have contributed to Mrs Groce's death.The inquest jury is looking at the planning of the police raid and how the events of that day may have contributed to Mrs Groce's death.
The inquest is expected to call more than 40 witnesses. The court heard that officers had little information about the flat, and had no idea it was Mrs Groce's family home, but Mr Lovelock said race relations in Brixton at the time meant intelligence-gathering would have been almost impossible.
Insp Douglas Lovelock, the marksman who shot Mrs Groce, stood trial in 1987 charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm, and was acquitted. Mr Lovelock stood trial in 1987 charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm, and was acquitted.