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| Mark Duggan inquest: Key questions set out for jury | Mark Duggan inquest: Key questions set out for jury |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jurors at the inquest into the death of Mark Duggan have been told they must consider two key questions. | Jurors at the inquest into the death of Mark Duggan have been told they must consider two key questions. |
| Ashley Underwood QC told them they must consider whether it was necessary for officers to fire a fatal shot and whether a planned police operation minimised the need for lethal force. | Ashley Underwood QC told them they must consider whether it was necessary for officers to fire a fatal shot and whether a planned police operation minimised the need for lethal force. |
| The father-of-four was shot dead by armed police in Tottenham in August 2011, sparking widespread rioting. | The father-of-four was shot dead by armed police in Tottenham in August 2011, sparking widespread rioting. |
| The inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice is expected to last two months. | The inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice is expected to last two months. |
| "Firmed up" intelligence | |
| During the inquest evidence from 100 witnesses is expected to be heard. Police officers giving evidence will do so from behind a screen and under code names. | |
| Mr Underwood, who is presenting the Metropolitan Police Service's account of events, told the court the officer who fired the fatal shot, known as V53, believed he was acting in self defence. | |
| He said police received intelligence that 29-year-old Mr Duggan was "intent" on picking up a gun from someone they believed was Kevin Hutchinson-Foster which was "firmed up" in the days leading up to the shooting. | |
| Mr Underwood said the police trailed Mr Duggan after receiving information he had picked up a gun and was on his way to Broadwater Farm in Tottenham, and were ordered to intercept the minicab he was travelling in on Ferry Lane. | |
| On approaching the vehicle, V53 fired twice believing Mr Duggan was bringing out his gun and presented a threat. | |
| Mr Duggan was hit in the bicep and the chest, piercing his aorta, and died despite the police "strenuously and professionally" performing first aid, Mr Underwood said. | |
| A gun, wrapped in a dark sock, "entirely capable of lethal force" was found about 20ft (6m) from the vehicle, Mr Underwood said. | |
| During the opening speech the jury was also told that Mr Duggan had been under surveillance by police operations investigating gangs and violent crime. |