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Azelle Rodney: Met police officer fired eight shots at close range, court told Azelle Rodney: Met police officer fired eight shots at close range, court told
(35 minutes later)
A Metropolitan police firearms officer murdered a suspect by firing a rapid volley of eight shots from close range, including two that struck the man in the top of his head, a jury has heard.A Metropolitan police firearms officer murdered a suspect by firing a rapid volley of eight shots from close range, including two that struck the man in the top of his head, a jury has heard.
Former Metropolitan police marksman Anthony Long, 58, is on trial for the murder of Azelle Rodney in 2005, which he denies.Former Metropolitan police marksman Anthony Long, 58, is on trial for the murder of Azelle Rodney in 2005, which he denies.
A jury at the Old Bailey in central London heard on Wednesday that Long, now retired from the force, had no lawful reason to open fire.A jury at the Old Bailey in central London heard on Wednesday that Long, now retired from the force, had no lawful reason to open fire.
Long shot dead Rodney, 24, in April 2005 when he was a passenger in a car that police were following, believing its three occupants were planning an armed robbery. Long shot Rodney, 24, in April 2005 when he was a passenger in a car that police were following, believing its three occupants were planning an armed robbery.
Rodney was killed in Mill Hill, north London, after police forced the car he was travelling in to stop by boxing it in with their unmarked vehicles. Long opened fire as the car he was in came alongside the Volkswagen Golf containing Rodney and the other two suspects. Rodney was killed in Mill Hill, north London, after police forced the car he was travelling in to stop by boxing it in with their unmarked vehicles. Long opened fire as the car he was in came alongside the Volkswagen Golf containing Rodney and the other two suspects. Rodney was a passenger in the back seat.
Opening the case, Max Hill QC, prosecuting, said that Long faced one charge of murder. Opening the case, Max Hill QC, prosecuting, said Long faced one charge of murder.
Hill said on 30 April 2005 intelligence led police to believe that Rodney and two other men in the Golf were planning an armed robbery, and that their vehicle contained firearms. Hill said that, on 30 April 2005, intelligence led police to believe that Rodney and two other men in the Golf were planning an armed robbery, and that their vehicle contained firearms.
Rodney was a passenger in the rear seat and, at about 7.40pm, armed police in unmarked vehicles followed the car to stop the suspected armed robbery. About 7.40pm, armed police in unmarked vehicles followed the car to stop the suspected armed robbery.
The defendant, Long, was a specialist firearms officer attached to the elite armed unit, then called SO19, and known by the call sign E7. Long, the defendant,was a specialist firearms officer attached to the specialist armed unit, then called SO19, and known by the call sign E7.
As the Golf entered Hale Lane, the order was given to force it to stop, described in police jargon as a “hard stop”, the jury heard.As the Golf entered Hale Lane, the order was given to force it to stop, described in police jargon as a “hard stop”, the jury heard.
Hill told the jury: “The hard stop was carried out in Hale Lane, with the result that one of the police firearms vehicles drew alongside the driver’s side of the Golf.Hill told the jury: “The hard stop was carried out in Hale Lane, with the result that one of the police firearms vehicles drew alongside the driver’s side of the Golf.
“The front seat passenger in that police firearms car was this defendant, Mr Long. He opened fire and he shot and killed Azelle Rodney. Mr Long fired eight shots, from short range and in quick succession, all of those shots were aimed at Azelle Rodney.” Two of the eight shots missed Rodney, six hit him. “The front-seat passenger in that police firearms car was this defendant, Mr Long. He opened fire and he shot and killed Azelle Rodney. Mr Long fired eight shots, from short range and in quick succession, all of those shots were aimed at Azelle Rodney.” Two of the eight shots missed Rodney, six hit him.
Hill added: “The majority of those shots caused fatal injuries to Azelle Rodney, culminating, we say, in the final two shots which were fired into the top of Azelle Rodney’s head.”Hill added: “The majority of those shots caused fatal injuries to Azelle Rodney, culminating, we say, in the final two shots which were fired into the top of Azelle Rodney’s head.”
Long watched from the dock as the crown opened its case. Also in court was Susan Alexander, mother of the dead man.Long watched from the dock as the crown opened its case. Also in court was Susan Alexander, mother of the dead man.
The jury was told by Hill: “The prosecution say that it was not necessary for Mr Long to open fire upon the Golf and Azelle Rodney. Therefore, we say Mr Long was not acting lawfully when he opened fire.The jury was told by Hill: “The prosecution say that it was not necessary for Mr Long to open fire upon the Golf and Azelle Rodney. Therefore, we say Mr Long was not acting lawfully when he opened fire.
“That being so, Mr Long’s actions in deliberately killing Azelle Rodney when it was not necessary to do so make Mr Long guilty of murder.”“That being so, Mr Long’s actions in deliberately killing Azelle Rodney when it was not necessary to do so make Mr Long guilty of murder.”
The prosecutor told the 12 jurors that they would “need to consider very carefully the actions of Mr Long and the events surrounding the moment when he pulled the trigger and opened fire”.The prosecutor told the 12 jurors that they would “need to consider very carefully the actions of Mr Long and the events surrounding the moment when he pulled the trigger and opened fire”.
The court heard that a video of the shooting exists because a police officer in a car just behind Long’s vehicle made a recording of the incident for “training purposes”.The court heard that a video of the shooting exists because a police officer in a car just behind Long’s vehicle made a recording of the incident for “training purposes”.
The officer who made the video can be heard saying “we’re going in” as police started the manoeuvre to force Rodney’s car to stop.The officer who made the video can be heard saying “we’re going in” as police started the manoeuvre to force Rodney’s car to stop.
The shots fired by Long are not captured on the video. But the jury heard the soundtrack captured the eight rapid gunshots. The shots fired by Long are not captured on the video. But the jury heard that the soundtrack captured the eight rapid gunshots.
The officer who was recording the video can be heard saying “sweet as, sweet as,” as the shots are fired. The shots lasted about two seconds, according to the recording. The officer who was recording the video can be heard saying “sweet as, sweet as” as the shots were fired. The shots lasted about two seconds, according to the recording.
The jury heard Long had 30 years of experience as an officer at the time of the shooting. The crown said it respected the work of firearms officers who had “onerous responsibilities”.
Hill said: “An armed police officer, to state the obvious, has the means to end the lives of others. We are all, as citizens, entitled to expect that no armed officer will take the life of another unless there is no alternative.” Intelligence said the suspects might have a machine gun. It also said they were planning to rob Colombian drug dealers of class A drugs.
Long and fellow armed officers carried a semi-automatic Heckler and Koch G36c carbine weapon for which the trigger has to be squeezed for every shot. Hill told the jury: “We say that the very detailed analysis which you will bring to bear upon the events in Hale Lane on 30 April 2005 will demonstrate that this particular officer, Mr Long, opened fire for some other reason than sheer necessity. Whether through misjudgment, panic or some other reason, Mr Long opened fire and took another life when the circumstances at the moment he pulled the trigger did not justify him in so doing.
“He is here before you and on trial for murder because he failed in carrying out his duty and responsibility on that day. We say that Azelle Rodney and the other men in the Golf were embarked on criminal activity that day, and they deserved to be stopped, to be arrested and to be dealt with for any crimes they had committed. They did not deserve to be shot and killed, and it was not necessary that this should happen to Azelle Rodney.” Hill detailing the prosecution case said: “ The task of the firearms team was to disrupt criminal activity. There was no ‘shoot on sight’ approach authorised at any stage of the police operation, in other words, any shots that were fired would have to be properly justified by reference to the behaviour of the individuals in the Golf. The officers were not instructed or authorised to shoot Azelle Rodney, or any one else, come what may.”
Long denies murder. The trial continues and is scheduled to last six weeks.Long denies murder. The trial continues and is scheduled to last six weeks.