Shot barrister's family urge rigorous 'song titles' inquiry
The family of a British barrister shot dead by police called for a “rigorous inquiry” tonight into claims one of the marksmen inserted song titles into his inquest evidence.
A member of the Metropolitan Police’s CO19 firearms unit has been removed from duty after suspicions arose that he peppered his testimony under oath with musical references.
The marksman, known only as Alpha Zulu 8 (AZ8), has already been reprimanded for swearing repeatedly during his evidence at Westminster Coroner’s Court.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) launched a fresh investigation after senior officers referred the allegations to the watchdog.
Sources close to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said he was “furious” that anyone could show such “insensitivity and lack of judgment” during the high-profile hearing.
Mr Saunders’s mother Rosemary, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire, who sat through much of the inquest, accused the officer of apparently treating it as a “game”.
She told the Evening Standard: “It does make me think about what goes on within CO19 and how seriously they have taken this case.
“Having seen all of these men interviewed, we saw the moderate ones who didn’t fire a gun, and the ones that fired, who were completely different. His attitude has not surprised me.
“There needs to be a rigorous investigation into this. It’s not acceptable. We feel very strongly about that.”
The two-and-a-half week inquest found high-flying barrister Mr Saunders, 32, was lawfully killed when he pointed his shotgun at officers after a drinking binge.
But it raised questions over how such difficult operations are run and offered an insight into the minds of officers who put their lives on the line to protect the public.
AZ8 was one of four officers who may have fired shots that caused fatal injuries to Mr Saunders as he stood at the window of his kitchen window in Markham Square, Chelsea on May 6 2008.
The officer, who fired as he tried to place a battery-powered spotlight below Mr Saunders, told the inquest he regretted not pulling the trigger earlier.
And his bullish testimony was notable for several outbursts of swearing, including the remark “f*** my old boots” and adding he was “buggered” if he was going to turn his back on a gunman.
It was not clear what officials suspect the song titles are, but it is understood they are now also examining the evidence of other firearms officers.
AZ8 used the phrases “first time”, a hit by Robin Beck, “enough is enough”, the subtitle of hit single No More Tears by Barbra Streisand, “point of no return”, a Duran Duran hit, and “line of fire”, recorded by rock band Journey.
The officer was reprimanded by a senior officer in his firearms unit over the swearing but IPCC officials were alerted when the song title claims came to the attention of more senior staff.
A spokesman said: “A matter was brought to Met attention during the Mark Saunders inquest in relation to evidence given by a firearms officer to the inquest.
“The issue was dealt with at the time by the officer’s management, who reprimanded him.
“On October 28 the matter came to the attention of senior officers who felt this was insufficient.
“As a result the matter was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on October 29.
“We have now been informed by the IPCC that they will manage an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Directorate of Professional Standards.
“The Met takes this matter extremely seriously as we expect the highest standards of all of our staff. The officer has been removed from operational firearms duty.”
An IPCC spokeswoman said the watchdog would now manage a further police inquiry into what effect this had on the officer’s testimony and on proceedings overall after it was referred to it last week.
She said: “It is alleged that, while giving evidence under oath to the inquest on September 27, officer AZ8 deliberately inserted song titles into his verbal testimony.
“The investigation will examine the officer’s testimony, any impact that testimony may have had on the proceedings, the way in which the allegation was initially dealt with by one of his supervisors, and whether or not any other police officers were involved.”
Solicitor Jane Glass, who represents Mr Saunders’s widow Elizabeth, said: “Mrs Saunders has no comment to make on this matter while it is under investigation.”
