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Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce inquest finds police failures contributed to her death Dorothy 'Cherry' Groce inquest finds police failures contributed to her death
(35 minutes later)
Police failures contributed to the death of a mother whose shooting by an officer triggered the 1985 Brixton riots, an inquest jury has found.Police failures contributed to the death of a mother whose shooting by an officer triggered the 1985 Brixton riots, an inquest jury has found.
Dorothy Groce, known as Cherry, was wounded and paralysed by armed police who were searching for her son in a planned raid at her home in south London.Dorothy Groce, known as Cherry, was wounded and paralysed by armed police who were searching for her son in a planned raid at her home in south London.
A jury at Southwark coroner's court found that police failed to communicate properly during the hunt for Michael Groce and to adequately check who was living at the address before the raid.A jury at Southwark coroner's court found that police failed to communicate properly during the hunt for Michael Groce and to adequately check who was living at the address before the raid.
The jury returned their verdict on Thursday, the third day of deliberations, following six days of evidence.The jury returned their verdict on Thursday, the third day of deliberations, following six days of evidence.
Groce died 26 years after the shooting in 2011, aged 63, from kidney failure, which a pathologist directly linked to the gunshot injury.Groce died 26 years after the shooting in 2011, aged 63, from kidney failure, which a pathologist directly linked to the gunshot injury.
Her shooting by a Metropolitan police inspector, Douglas Lovelock, sparked two days of unrest during which shops were looted and petrol bombs thrown in the south London neighbourhood.Her shooting by a Metropolitan police inspector, Douglas Lovelock, sparked two days of unrest during which shops were looted and petrol bombs thrown in the south London neighbourhood.
Lovelock stood trial in 1987 charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm, and was acquitted. Meanwhile, Groce spent nearly three decades in a wheelchair and was susceptible to debilitating illness.Lovelock stood trial in 1987 charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm, and was acquitted. Meanwhile, Groce spent nearly three decades in a wheelchair and was susceptible to debilitating illness.
Lovelock, who admitted being responsible for the wound, told the inquest he had apprehensions about going on the job.Lovelock, who admitted being responsible for the wound, told the inquest he had apprehensions about going on the job.
The jury concluded: "Dorothy Groce was shot by police during a planned, forced entry raid at her home, and her subsequent death was contributed to by failures in the planning and implementation of the raid."The jury concluded: "Dorothy Groce was shot by police during a planned, forced entry raid at her home, and her subsequent death was contributed to by failures in the planning and implementation of the raid."
The jury found there were eight failures in total made by police. These included failures to properly brief officers that Michael Groce was no longer wanted by police. They also failed to adequately check who lived at the property, including women and children, and to carry out adequate observations on the house.The jury found there were eight failures in total made by police. These included failures to properly brief officers that Michael Groce was no longer wanted by police. They also failed to adequately check who lived at the property, including women and children, and to carry out adequate observations on the house.
Officers should have called off the raid entirely during a police briefing but failed to do so, the jury found. However, they found there was no failure by police to call off the raid once it had begun.Officers should have called off the raid entirely during a police briefing but failed to do so, the jury found. However, they found there was no failure by police to call off the raid once it had begun.
Groce's family, who were in court for the verdict, stood up to thank each jury member. Groce's granddaughter Charlene Lavelle read a statement on behalf of the family.
She said: "After 29 years, it is now a matter of public record that the shooting of our mother and grandmother was not an accident.
"Instead the truth is that Cherry Groce was shot as a result of a series of astonishing failures by officers across the ranks to follow procedures designed to protect innocent members of the public."
Her son Lee Lawrence, who was 11 when he saw his mother shot by armed police, said his family had battled for answers that the Metropolitan police had always known.
He said:"My mother was an innocent victim. I knew, she knew and we knew that what happened that day was wrong.
"After that shooting, my mum was left paralysed and we suffered in silence.
"The inquest has given us the only opportunity to get down to the truth about what really happened the day she was shot.
"That's a battle we should never have had to go through to get answers that the Met knew that day."