9 Aug 2011

No evidence that Duggan fired at police

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has found no evidence that Mark Duggan, whose death sparked the London riots, fired at police before being shot.

Mr Duggan, 29, was killed by armed officers last Thursday in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, north London, after they stopped the minicab he was in to carry out an arrest as part of a pre-planned operation.

Ballistic test results obtained on Tuesday by the IPCC showed there was no evidence he opened fire at police officers before he was shot dead.

An inquest which opened this morning at North London Coroner’s Court in High Barnet heard that the father-of-four died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

He was pronounced dead at 6.41pm on Thursday evening.

Colin Sparrow, deputy senior investigator for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), told the brief hearing that their “complex investigation” could take four to six months.

Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London, Andrew Walker, adjourned the hearing to 12 December when a pre-inquest review will be held.

Mr Walker told members of Mr Duggan’s family, including his fiancee Semone Wilson: “Can I just offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Mark Duggan.

“As members of the family will know, in due course there will be an inquest touching the death of Mark Duggan and this is the first stage in that process.

“Of course, as well as offering our deepest sympathies to members of the family, I would like to reassure members of the family that we will be working closely with the IPCC throughout the process.”

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