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| Azelle Rodney shooting: former Met police officer to be charged with murder | Azelle Rodney shooting: former Met police officer to be charged with murder |
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| A former firearms officer, identified only as E7, is to be charged with the murder of Azelle Rodney, who was shot dead in north-west London during a police operation in 2005. | A former firearms officer, identified only as E7, is to be charged with the murder of Azelle Rodney, who was shot dead in north-west London during a police operation in 2005. |
| The decision to charge the ex-police officer, who has been granted anonymity, follows two inquiries by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into the killing. | The decision to charge the ex-police officer, who has been granted anonymity, follows two inquiries by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into the killing. |
| Announcing the decision, Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, said: "Azelle Rodney died after the discharge of a police firearm on 30 April 2005. | Announcing the decision, Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, said: "Azelle Rodney died after the discharge of a police firearm on 30 April 2005. |
| "Following the outcome of the public inquiry, the Independent Police Complaints Commission re-referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service, providing us with the evidence previously gathered and the further evidence and material which has emerged since the initial referral. | "Following the outcome of the public inquiry, the Independent Police Complaints Commission re-referred the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service, providing us with the evidence previously gathered and the further evidence and material which has emerged since the initial referral. |
| "We have carefully considered the new file of evidence submitted to us and have decided that a former Metropolitan police officer, currently identified only as E7, will be prosecuted for murder. | "We have carefully considered the new file of evidence submitted to us and have decided that a former Metropolitan police officer, currently identified only as E7, will be prosecuted for murder. |
| "The individual currently has anonymity granted under section 19(2)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005, made on 16 January 2012 by the chairman of the inquiry. | "The individual currently has anonymity granted under section 19(2)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005, made on 16 January 2012 by the chairman of the inquiry. |
| "The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest. | "The decision to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest. |
| "E7 will appear at Westminster magistrates court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, 10 September 2014." | "E7 will appear at Westminster magistrates court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, 10 September 2014." |
| In a statement the Metropolitan police said: "The former officer was granted anonymity at the public inquiry into Mr Rodney's death and was referred to as E7. As criminal proceedings are now active, it would be inappropriate to comment further on this case at this time. | |
| "The MPS runs firearms operations daily to take guns off the streets. Our officers are highly trained and professional and fire shots only once or twice a year. We accept that where this happens, our officers will be subject to detailed scrutiny. | |
| "We keep our firearms tactics constantly under review and have accepted the recommendations made by the public inquiry into Azelle Rodney's death." |