The inquest into the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police in north London in 2011, is to take place before a jury in September.
Mr Duggan’s death in Tottenham sparked riots that spread to other English cities.
A pre-inquest hearing was told a judge will act as coroner because sensitive material is involved in the case.
Mr Duggan’s family, who have criticised police over the investigation into the death, attended the hearing.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has been investigating the shooting, which happened on 4 August, 2011.
‘Seriously let down’
Michael Mansfield QC, representing Mr Duggan’s family, expressed the family’s frustration that it will be almost two years after the killing that the full facts around his death are heard by a jury.
He said the family had been “seriously let down” and, in criticising the delay, said there had been “serious misdemeanours” in the investigation of the case.
At a pre-inquest review at Barnet Coroner’s Court, Ashley Underwood QC outlined the facts that will need to be established.
These include:
- Was each of the shots fired at Mr Duggan absolutely necessary?
- Why was the pistol not seized from the man said to have sold it to Mr Duggan?
- Was Mr Duggan’s intention to kill someone?
- Why was he not stopped as soon as he had taken delivery of the gun?
Mr Underwood said important ballistics and scientific research still had to be carried out.
Mr Duggan’s mother Pamela, who had to leave the court when details of her son’s wounds were read out, said: “I want justice for my son.
“We need to be able to move on in our lives - not that it’s ever going to be the same again - and we can’t keep coming back to these places for nothing.”
‘Strong family’
Carole Duggan, Mr Duggan’s aunt, said the search for the truth had been “obstructed”.
She called the IPCC “lax” and added: “We are not closer to knowing what happened to him.”
Shaun Hall, Mr Duggan’s brother, said: “The timetable in place is promising. We are a very strong family and we will see this through to the end.”
Robin Tam, QC for the IPCC, said its report was at “an advanced stage”.
He said its completion had been reliant on details emerging in the trial of Kevin Hutchinson-Foster, who is accused of supplying a gun to Mr Duggan.
Judge Keith Cutler said another pre-inquest hearing would take place in March, by which time the IPCC report and witness statements must be ready.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21236784
Carole Duggan will be speaking at our upcoming public meeting ‘Justice Delayed is Justice Denied’, Mon 4th Feb, 7pm at ULU, Malet St, London.
http://www.defendtherighttoprotest.org/dtrtp-public-meeting-justice-delayed-is-justice-denied/
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