Why Should This Police Officer Be Charged With Murder For Carrying Out His Duty?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2710726/BREAKING-NEWS-Former-police-officer-charged-murder-Azelle-Rodney-died-shot-police-nine-years-ago.html

His 'victim' was a known criminal who was in a car along with others who were carrying firearms, he was also wanted by the police over a double stabbing

/// Wesley Lovell and Frank Graham, the other occupants of the VW Golf, were jailed for seven and six years respectively in January 2006 after pleading guilty to possession of firearms. ///

/// At the time of his death Rodney was wanted over a double stabbing in Ealing. ///

[jackthehat]

It wasn't his duty to murder anyone, it was his duty to help in the apprehension and arrest of a suspect.

If his actions constitute murder then it is only right that he should be charged.

[RATTER15]

"The rounds were fired from the open window of a patrol car within a split second of pulling alongside the VW Golf carrying Rodney."

That sounds more like an execution!

Why did they pull along side the car with guns raised, surely not a wise thing knowing they were armed.

The Police can not just shoot someone because they think they are armed. I imagine that their training would normally have said to follow the car at a safe distance until there was a direct threat. It appears they drew along-side the car with the intent to shoot the occupants.

[anotheoldgit]

So he should have said "would you mind pulling over please, because I suspect you are carrying weapons"?

Yes like anyone of you would.

I do hope that the armed response units will all lay down their arms over this one.

[Svejk]

its ridiculous for him to be charged with murder.
its possible that mistakes were made, don't know, wasn't there.
I've no idea why people have sympathy for the likes of Rodney. Save your sympathy for his victims.

[sunny-dave]

He's only been charged - not even tried yet, let alone convicted.

The CPS were under a lot of pressure to proceed with this - a jury may take some convincing to convict - especially with a half decent defence team, which I'm sure he'll have.

[jackthehat]

Please don't confuse my hopes that Justice is seen to be done with any sort of sympathy for Azelle Rodney and his ilk...

[Sqad]

24-year-old died in Edgware, London, in April 2005 after being shot six times

On that day in April 2005, London became just that little bit safer.

[dave50]

Nothing to with the fact he was black and the family are playing the race card then?

[razza]

I agree with anotheoldgit and squad

[slaney]

The CPS had little option but to charge him in view of Sir Christopher Holland's findings...
"The head of the inquiry, Sir Christopher Holland, found that E7 had changed his story and there was little or no justification for seven of the eight shots that he fired within two seconds.

I have to find that there was no lawful justification of shooting Azelle Rodney so as to kill him,” the report said. In relation to the four fatal shots, Sir Christopher concluded: “I am wholly satisfied that firing so as to kill him … was disproportionate and therefore unreasonable and unlawful.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/armed-police-officer-charged-with-murder-over-azelle-rodney-shooting-9638777.html

[saintpeter48]

It really annoys me when the families of these convicted criminals and wanted men, cry for justice when 'something goes wrong'! They surely know that their 'loving, friendly' son is nothing but a career, drug dealing, weapon carrying thug with a criminal record as long as your arm!! You live by the sword, you die by the sword!! Should've chosen a different lifestyle I'm afraid. I trust that the police officer will be found not guilty!

[retrocop]

The only pity here is that the firearms officer did'nt share out his magazine of rounds equally between the three of the occupants of the car.

[jomifl]

How many times he was shot is irrelevant. The men in the car were known to be armed as they had been under surveillance for some time. Given that the men in the car were known violent criminals and drug dealers I don't see how else they could have been dealt with without risking the life of the arresting officers.

[jackthehat]

The arresting officers are trained for just such a situation. Rodney and his friends in the car may well have been odious specimens and possibly his family are the only ones to mourn his passing, but that still doesn't give E7 the right to have dispatched him in such a manner as has been suggested.

I hope the trial gets to the facts and that any case to answer *is* answered....

[sunny-dave]

I agree with JtH and C&J that we can't have summary justice by armed police officers ...

I agree with slaney that the CPS had to proceed ...

I agree with sqad that London is safer without Rodney ...

I agree with saintpeter about the spectacle of 'grieving families' sticking in the craw ...

I agree with myself that a jury won't convict.

[anotheoldgit]

ColinandJess

/// Because shooting an unarmed man 6 times is justified is it? ///

*** The rounds were fired from the open window of a patrol car within a split second of pulling alongside the VW Golf carrying Rodney. ***

*** Officer E7 claimed he feared Rodney was about to fire a submachine
gun. ****

Ever tried looking into a speeding car so as to see what a passenger is or is not carrying?

Even more so when there is fear that you and your companions might be splatted with gun fire.

[anotheoldgit]

jackthehat

/// The arresting officers are trained for just such a situation. ///

At a rough guess, how would you have tackled such a split second decision situation?

[jackthehat]

The Law thinks with its head rather than its heart.......

Whatever the circumstances, it appears that E7 may have a case to answer. If he were to be found Not Guilty, I'd be entirely happy with that outcome.