© Rex Features
Mark Duggan.
The family of Mark Duggan, whose death in Tottenham sparked the 2011 riots across England, were left devastated as an inquest jury decided he was not holding a gun when shot by police, but nevertheless found the marksman's decision to open fire was lawful.
The jury rushed out of court to a secure room as the friends and family of the dead 29-year-old heard the verdict, which was greeted angrily by relatives and supporters in north London.
On Wednesday night speaking outside Tottenham police station, Pam Duggan, Mark's mother, said she did not accept the verdict. "They [the police] know that they have killed my son."
The lawful killing verdict was a surprise to some even on the police side,
and more so as before announcing the decision, the jury had announced by an eight-to-two majority that they were sure Duggan did not have a gun in his hand when shot.
That had seemed to be the issue at the heart of the inquest.
The jury delivered a narrative verdict, answering a series of questions. It had appeared that the six days of deliberations were going to produce a disaster for the Metropolitan police when the jury found law enforcement had not done enough to gather and react to intelligence Duggan may be seeking to acquire a gun.
Instead the jury announced that by an eight-to-two majority they believed the firearms officer had acted lawfully in gunning Duggan down.
The officer, known as V53, testified he was sure he had seen a gun in Duggan's right hand and believed the suspect was preparing to use it. As the verdict was announced, Pam Duggan broke down in court and his brother shouted swearwords at the jury.
