Friday, October 21, 2005
Met Police Shootings.
Harry Stanley was shot and killed by police in London in 1999 as he walked home carrying a newly repaired coffee table leg in a plastic bag. Armed officers thought it was a sawn-off shotgun after a member of the public called police to report that a man with an Irish accent (Harry was Scots) was carrying a shotgun.
Subsequently, after two inquests and a verdict of unlawful killing, which was eventually overturned by the High Court, two officers were arrested in 2005.
Yesterday the Crown Prosecution Service announced there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution.
Lawyers acting for the family of Mr Stanley said the decision would undermine public confidence in the police.
I would think it should.
In the wake of the Jean Charles de Menezes killing, with around ten officers up to the rank of deputy assistant commissioner potentially facing manslaughter charges and Sir Ian Blair rather belatedly admitting he might have to resign, the suspicion that police are in any way above the law in deadly matters such as these is extremely disturbing.
Subsequently, after two inquests and a verdict of unlawful killing, which was eventually overturned by the High Court, two officers were arrested in 2005.
Yesterday the Crown Prosecution Service announced there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution.
Lawyers acting for the family of Mr Stanley said the decision would undermine public confidence in the police.
I would think it should.
In the wake of the Jean Charles de Menezes killing, with around ten officers up to the rank of deputy assistant commissioner potentially facing manslaughter charges and Sir Ian Blair rather belatedly admitting he might have to resign, the suspicion that police are in any way above the law in deadly matters such as these is extremely disturbing.
© Colcam 2005-2007
