police looking after themselves it seems

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jamiejah

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Joined: Mar 21, 2004
Posts: 3010

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Posted: June 03, 2005 - 09:44 AM
Post subject: police looking after themselves it seems

• Unarmed man's police killers are arrested
• Officers who shot Harry Stanley were cleared of unlawful killing just one week ago
• Fellow police prοtest against arrests

Key quote
"These officers were asked to make a split-second, life-and-death decision as a result of the armed policing duties they had volunteered for. Six years later, their decision is still being examined by the legal system." - Scotland Yard's assistant commissioner, Steve House

Story in full
TWO police marksmen have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the fatal shooting of an unarmed Scots grandfather, Harry Stanley, six years ago.

The dramatic twist in the long-running case, which began on 22 September, 1999, when Inspector Iain Sharman, 42, and Pc Kevin Fagan, 38, fatally shot Mr Stanley, when they mistook the table-leg he carried for a shotgun, comes weeks after a High Court cleared them of unlawful killing.

They were held on suspicion of murder, gross negligence, manslaughter and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by Surrey Police officers, before being released on bail, pending further inquiries. They have not been suspended from duty.

Their arrests last night prompted resignation threats from a number of firearms officers, while others refused to carry their weapons in prοtest against their treatment.

A previous decision to suspend the officers in November last year, following an unlawful killing inquest verdict, had led to similar threats of an unofficial strike. The officers were re-instated but banned from firearms duties.

The latest development, six years after Mr Stanley died yards from his home in Hackney, east London, came as a result of new forensic evidence unearthed by Surrey Police as part of their review of the case.

Any charges resulting from their arrest will be decided by the Crown Prosecution Service, which has been reviewing the evidence since October 2004, following the second inquest into Mr Stanley's death.

The men could be charged with any of the offences, a combination of the offences, or none, depending on the CPS's decision.

Scotland Yard is standing by the two officers, whose arrests mark the latest twist in a bitter legal battle that has included two inquests, a High Court hearing and, three weeks ago, a judicial review.

Mr Stanley, 46, originally from Lanarkshire, was carrying a blue plastic bag with a coffee table-leg inside, which had just been repaired by his brother Peter. Both officers opened fire as the painter and decorator walked home from the Alexandra pub in Hackney.

The father of three had been recovering from an operation on colon cancer at the time.

Mr Stanley's widow, Irene, 52, from Glasgow, made no comment yesterday, but her lawyer issued a statement on her behalf. It said: "The family has noted today's development and is awaiting an early decision on criminal charges. They are again calling for the officers to be suspended from all duties."

However, those representing rank-and-file officers criticised the treatment of Pc Fagan and Insp Sharman. Glen Smyth, the chairman of the Met branch of the Police Federation, accused Surrey detectives of acting with "gross incompetence". He said that the officers were "absolutely devastated" by the news.

"The way this case has been conducted goes from bad to appalling. I can't comment on the alleged new evidence, but for Surrey Police to present new evidence to the world six years after the event is incredible."

He said that Surrey Police had known about the evidence last month, before a judicial review overturned an inquest verdict that the officers had unlawfully killed Mr Stanley.

"The very fact they knew about it before the judicial review and sought an injunction to prevent the Police Federation from telling the interested parties of the new developments is absolutely scandalous."

Mr Smyth said that the officers' careers had been put "on hold for six years".

The Police Federation chairwoman, Jan Berry, said it was "astounding and completely wrong" that the matter still had not been resolved.

"Firearms officers do an extremely difficult job and are expected to make split-second decisions," she said.

Scotland Yard's assistant commissioner, Steve House, added: "The investigations and inquiries into this tragic incident have now been running for nearly six years and the time this has taken can only have increased the strain placed on all concerned.

"These officers were asked to make a split-second, life-and-death decision as a result of the armed policing duties they had volunteered for. Six years later, their decision is still being examined by the legal system. How many of us would want to be in that position?"

He added that the internal disciplinary position of the two officers had been reviewed by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards and, in "the light of today's developments, their position remains unchanged".

The first inquest into Mr Stanley's death returned an open verdict in June 2002 - a decision which his family subsequently had overturned at a High Court hearing. A second inquest, at St Pancras Coroner's Court last October, returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

Then last month, the unlawful killing verdict was quashed by a High Court judge who said that there was "insufficient evidence" to support it - a decision that was attacked by Mr Stanley's family.

Daniel Machover, Mrs Stanley's lawyer, criticised Mr Smyth for his comments about the case.

"We consider the matter to be sub judice. It sounds to me like Mr Smyth is getting their defence in early."

He added: "What we are waiting for is a decision on charges, and we want to make sure, if there is a trial, that it is a fair trial. The family have always wanted a jury in a criminal case to make a decision on whether the officers are guilty of criminal charges."

He said that the family would be seeking an appeal of the judge's ruling on 12 May, which cleared the officers.

A CPS spokesman said that no decision as to whether or not there would be a prosecution had yet been taken.

"We will give our decision to Surrey Police when we have received and had time to consider all of the evidence in this case, including the result of current police interviews," he said.

THESE are the events that led to the arrests of two police officers on suspicion of murdering the painter and decorator Harry Stanley.

• September 1999 - Mr Stanley, 46, shot as he walked home from a pub near his home in Hackney, London, carrying a wooden table-leg, which the officers mistook for a sawn-off shotgun.

• June 2002 - An inquest jury returns an open verdict. They had not been allowed to consider possible verdicts of unlawful killing or gross negligence manslaughter.

• February 2003 - Mr Stanley's family win permission to apply for a fresh inquest.

• April 2003 - Mr Justice Silber, at the High Court in London, orders a fresh inquest.

• October 2004 - An inquest jury returns an unlawful killing verdict.

• Days later, Chief Inspector Neil Sharman and Pc Kevin Fagan from the Metropolitan Police firearms unit S019 are suspended from duty.

• November 2004 - Met Police firearms officers threaten to lay down their weapons in prοtest against the suspensions.

• Both officers are allowed to return to work on "non-operational duties".

• May 2005 - The High Court quashes the unlawful killing verdict.

• June 2005 - Sharman and Fagan are arrested.

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jamiejah

Low Seater

Joined: Mar 21, 2004
Posts: 3010

Status: Offline

Posted: June 03, 2005 - 09:47 AM

However, those representing rank-and-file officers criticised the treatment of Pc Fagan and Insp Sharman. Glen Smyth, the chairman of the Met branch of the Police Federation, accused Surrey detectives of acting with "gross incompetence". He said that the officers were "absolutely devastated" by the news.

"The way this case has been conducted goes from bad to appalling. I can't comment on the alleged new evidence, but for Surrey Police to present new evidence to the world six years after the event is incredible."

is that not what police work is ALL ABOUTl about presenting evidence no matter the length of time,this is the chairman of the MET who said that

GC
The Ginger Prince

Joined: Dec 01, 2003
Posts: 21536

Posted: June 03, 2005 - 09:48 AM

title of the thread is a bit strong

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Hamletsbroad
LoopKicker

Joined: July 26, 2004
Posts: 857

Posted: June 03, 2005 - 09:51 AM

Clearly you two do not know of the MANY gangs in LA whose main weapon of choice is none other than---sawd off table legs. There are MANY individuals who are killed by them or severely splintered beyond recognition.

Jeez in LA---it is always shoot first and shoot a LOT of times--then check to see if that 5 year old bastard is packing heat.