Video: Jury in Brighton shooting return lawful killing verdict (From The Argus)
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Video: Jury in Brighton shooting return lawful killing verdict
4:22pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Emily Walker, Chief Reporter
The inquest into the death of Michael Fitzpatrick has returned a unanimous verdict of lawful killing at Brighton Magistrates' Court today.
Michael Fitzpatrick, 49, who was believed to be living in the Brighton area, was shot by armed officers in Rock Place, Brighton, on Thursday 10 February, 2011.
As part of a pre-planned operation the officers were attempting to arrest him on suspicion of committing a series of armed robberies in Burgess Hill.
He was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. The jury concluded that the cause of death was due to gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
Coroner for Brighton and Hove, Veronica Hamilton-Deeley, and the jury extended their sympathies to Mr Fitzpatrick's family and the officers involved.
They specifically praised the immediate medical care provided by the firearms officers, describing it as exemplary.
Following the hearing, Assistant Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of Michael Fitzpatick today at what is undoubtedly a very difficult time.
"The decision made by officers that day is one of the most profoundly difficult decisions an officer may face in their career.
As heard during the inquest, the officers had just three seconds to take action to protect themselves and members of the public against the visible threat of a firearm.
"Firearms officers are highly trained and the use of lethal force is seen as a last resort to protect the public or themselves.
"Any decision to use that high level of force will weigh heavily on those officers' minds.
"We have fully supported the Coroner's inquest and an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into Michael Fitzpatrick's death, providing documents and witnesses to help determine the cause of death and the circumstances in which he died.
"The IPCC didn't find any failings by officers in respect of Michael Fitzpatrick's death, concluding that excellent decision making had taken place and that the officers' actions were both appropriate and proportionate.
The police operation was described as having been impeccably planned and officers had taken the right action to deal proactively with the threat posed by a dangerous individual.
"After completing what the Coroner described as a robust and independent investigation, the [independent police watchdog] IPCC concluded that the recommendations made to Sussex Police would not have prevented the death of Mr Fitzpatrick.
"Officers had acted within moments to tend to Mr Fitzpatrick, but tragically neither they nor paramedics were able to save his life."
However, The IPCC did make some recommendations.
It reminded officers to consider the use of the two-way Airwave radio system when appropriate to brief those engaged in armed policing deployments.
It said Sussex Police should remind officers from the Tactical Firearms and Strategic Firearms teams to include the suspect of the operation in the working strategy in all relevant stages of the operation.
Equally the requirements contained within the NPIA Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers (2010) i.e. the SFC 'must ensure that the strategy for the armed deployment is recorded, including any changes to it, to provide a clear audit trail.
IPCC Commissioner for South East, Mike Franklin, said: "This is an extremely sad case and nothing can compensate Mr Fitzpatrick’s family for their loss.
"At the outset of our independent investigation I sought to ensure we looked at every aspect of Sussex Police’s contact with Mr Fitzpatrick on that day."
"It was crucial we explored the planning, decision making and implementation of Sussex Police’s pre-planned operation with particular attention to threat assessments as well as applying scrutiny to the actions of the firearms officer.
"Firearms officers often find themselves in incredibly challenging situations where they are required to make split-second life and death decisions.
"A position most of us will never find ourselves in.
"Clearly, the outcome of this tragic incident is not the conclusion anyone wanted.
"However, I am confident we have thoroughly and independently investigated the full circumstances of this fatal shooting and have concluded the action taken by the firearms officer could not have been avoided.”
Comments(20)
AmboGuy
says...
5:43pm Fri 3 Feb 12
The moral here is don't point a gun at armed police or you could get shot dead!
charlie smirke
says...
6:13pm Fri 3 Feb 12
DC78
says...
7:45pm Fri 3 Feb 12
Argus, you are using video footage which was given to you for free, on a free to use basis, on condition that you may not profit.
You have been warned previously about that and you continue to ignore it. Stop it and stop it now!!
davyboy
says...
8:01pm Fri 3 Feb 12
sandalman
says...
8:41pm Fri 3 Feb 12
sandalman
says...
8:41pm Fri 3 Feb 12
greeg2
says...
9:49pm Fri 3 Feb 12
hawksterone
says...
10:43pm Fri 3 Feb 12
davyboy wrote:true but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyle
greeg2
says...
10:55pm Fri 3 Feb 12
hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.
davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
AmboGuy
says...
11:31pm Fri 3 Feb 12
greeg2 wrote:They recovered his gun at the scene you idiots. If you'd bothered to actually read some of the stories on it you'd know that a firearms expert has actually been commenting on the gun he had!! To say he was 'made to go down that path' is a pathetic excuse - people make their own decisions in life. Michael Fitzpatrick was an evil human being who made people's lives a misery. The only victims here are the post office workers he pointed a gun at or the dead woman he conspired to murder.
hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.
davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
I was waiting for the usual morons to come up with rubbish like this.
greeg2
says...
11:45pm Fri 3 Feb 12
AmboGuy wrote:"Ambogay",try talking out your face,it'll make more sense.
greeg2 wrote:They recovered his gun at the scene you idiots. If you'd bothered to actually read some of the stories on it you'd know that a firearms expert has actually been commenting on the gun he had!! To say he was 'made to go down that path' is a pathetic excuse - people make their own decisions in life. Michael Fitzpatrick was an evil human being who made people's lives a misery. The only victims here are the post office workers he pointed a gun at or the dead woman he conspired to murder. I was waiting for the usual morons to come up with rubbish like this.hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
tom servo
says...
7:38am Sat 4 Feb 12
AmboGuy wrote:I think Fitzpatrick's own family are also victims of this sorry episode.... but apart from that I totally agree with you AmboGuy.
greeg2 wrote:They recovered his gun at the scene you idiots. If you'd bothered to actually read some of the stories on it you'd know that a firearms expert has actually been commenting on the gun he had!! To say he was 'made to go down that path' is a pathetic excuse - people make their own decisions in life. Michael Fitzpatrick was an evil human being who made people's lives a misery. The only victims here are the post office workers he pointed a gun at or the dead woman he conspired to murder.
hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.
davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
I was waiting for the usual morons to come up with rubbish like this.
Baldseagull
says...
9:25am Sat 4 Feb 12
The plan went out the window when half the team spotted him en-route to the place where they were intending to arrest him and went for it there and then.
I have doubts about the reason given for doing so, which was they felt they had been spotted by the suspect.
AmboGuy
says...
10:32am Sat 4 Feb 12
greeg2 wrote:You can always tell when someone's lost an argument when they resort to silly little insults.
AmboGuy wrote:"Ambogay",try talking out your face,it'll make more sense.
greeg2 wrote:They recovered his gun at the scene you idiots. If you'd bothered to actually read some of the stories on it you'd know that a firearms expert has actually been commenting on the gun he had!! To say he was 'made to go down that path' is a pathetic excuse - people make their own decisions in life. Michael Fitzpatrick was an evil human being who made people's lives a misery. The only victims here are the post office workers he pointed a gun at or the dead woman he conspired to murder. I was waiting for the usual morons to come up with rubbish like this.hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
Ballroom Blitz
says...
12:37pm Sat 4 Feb 12
I feel sorry for the police that have to deal with people like him, and make split second decisions that they have to live with for the rest of their lives.
It's not a job I would want to do, and if you think that policemen are all looking for an opportunity to shoot someone, you need to wise up - hawksterone.
AmboGuy
says...
1:27pm Sat 4 Feb 12
Ballroom Blitz wrote:I reckon hawksterone's a former cell mate of Fitzpatrick. Dirty crims always stick together!
No loss to anyone except his family. And the streets are a safer place without people like him around.
I feel sorry for the police that have to deal with people like him, and make split second decisions that they have to live with for the rest of their lives.
It's not a job I would want to do, and if you think that policemen are all looking for an opportunity to shoot someone, you need to wise up - hawksterone.
papa_melons
says...
2:05pm Sat 4 Feb 12
AmboGuy wrote:as you regularly do here, or fail on that, deliver us a weak 'moral'
greeg2 wrote:You can always tell when someone's lost an argument when they resort to silly little insults.
AmboGuy wrote:"Ambogay",try talking out your face,it'll make more sense.
greeg2 wrote:They recovered his gun at the scene you idiots. If you'd bothered to actually read some of the stories on it you'd know that a firearms expert has actually been commenting on the gun he had!! To say he was 'made to go down that path' is a pathetic excuse - people make their own decisions in life. Michael Fitzpatrick was an evil human being who made people's lives a misery. The only victims here are the post office workers he pointed a gun at or the dead woman he conspired to murder. I was waiting for the usual morons to come up with rubbish like this.hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
AmboGuy
says...
4:49pm Sat 4 Feb 12
papa_melons wrote:Just as we can always rely on a troll like you to stick your oar in.
AmboGuy wrote:as you regularly do here, or fail on that, deliver us a weak 'moral'
greeg2 wrote:You can always tell when someone's lost an argument when they resort to silly little insults.
AmboGuy wrote:"Ambogay",try talking out your face,it'll make more sense.
greeg2 wrote:They recovered his gun at the scene you idiots. If you'd bothered to actually read some of the stories on it you'd know that a firearms expert has actually been commenting on the gun he had!! To say he was 'made to go down that path' is a pathetic excuse - people make their own decisions in life. Michael Fitzpatrick was an evil human being who made people's lives a misery. The only victims here are the post office workers he pointed a gun at or the dead woman he conspired to murder. I was waiting for the usual morons to come up with rubbish like this.hawksterone wrote:hawksterone your spelling's lamentable,but I'm with you on this one.Cops just can't wait to get their guns out and pull the trigger.I remember a few years ago they shot someone who had a table leg,then spouted the same rhetoric about being in danger.davyboy wrote: of course it is the right verdict. people whi insist on carrying firearms should expect to be shot at if they wave them around. certainly have some sympathy for his family, but ultimately he chose that lifestyletrue but he never waved it around so daveyboy with youre small talk and did he choose that lifestyle or was he made to go down that path so get your facts right you foolsh muppet, as in my view he never waved nothing apart from a carryier bag dropping to the floor
AmboGuy
says...
12:19pm Sun 5 Feb 12
Occupy Brighton supporter wrote:Oh god are you still here? You never said what happened to the new Occupy camp that never happened did you?
Police shooting dead an innocent man...history repeating itself. Michael Fitspatrick was a victim of circumstances in life and sometimes choices are made for you. The police could have incapacitated him but instead chose to kill him in cold blood, shame on them.
StevieD says...
5:40pm Fri 3 Feb 12