Fatal shots fired by a police marksman at gunman Alistair Bell ‘were justified’ an inquest jury has determined.

The jury of seven women and four men spent more than seven hours deliberating after the three-week inquest led by West Yorkshire Coroner Neil Cameron.

A narrative verdict was recorded after a majority decision by the jurors.

It told how Bell fired ‘a considerable number of shots’ at police officers from an ‘unlawfully held handgun’.

The jury foreman said: “The deceased was shot by a police officer, who fired three shots, two of which caused fatal injuries to Alistair Bell.”

He continued: “The shots fired by the police officer were justified.”

The foreman said a contributing factor was that Bell continued to point the gun in the direction of officers even after he had fired at officers.

The inquest heard how the incident unfolded outside Bell’s home in Cockley Hill, Kirkheaton, on the evening of December 27, 2010.

Firearms officers were then deployed and positioned surrounding the house for several hours and negotiators brought in to contact Bell.

But officers told how they came under ‘sustained fire’ from Bell over a ‘prolonged period’.

Bell was repeatedly told to surrender and that no-one had been injured, but he shouted abuse at the officers saying he wanted to go out in a ‘blaze of glory’.

The court heard that shortly before 5.30am, firearms officers saw Bell appear in view on the stairs of his home with a pistol outstretched in his arms.

Officer D20 told how he was positioned behind an armoured car and was one of a number of officers who engaged with Mr Bell.

He told in evidence how Bell’s knowledge of weapons and the fact he had already shot and injured an officer left no doubt that he could kill him.

Bell told D20: “This is only going to be a fire fight. I’ve served 17 years in jail and I’m not going to go back there.

“We are going to fire to the death.”

Officer D20 was then informed via his radio that Bell was armed with a pistol on the stairs, which were visible through a gap in the glass of the damaged front door.

The witness described Bell as ‘making himself as small as possible’ and appeared to be shuffling downstairs on his bottom with his head lowered and his arms out in front forming an arc with the pistol sweeping from side to side.

Officer D20 moved out from behind the vehicle with his gun on the doorway.

He fired three shots, two of which caused fatal injuries. The jury heard the shot to the head proved fatal and the shot to the chest was potentially fatal but with surgery could have been survived if it had been the only injury.

Evidence was also heard in the case regarding Bell’s contact with his father and particularly a telephone conversation in which he asked his father how he should end his own life.

After the narrative verdict was recorded, Mr Cameron was asked to consider recommendations by Mr Sean Horstead, regarding police ‘welfare checks’ for officers carrying out an extended tour of duty.

But Mr Cameron took the view that firearms officers are ‘highly trained professionals’ and although a log could be beneficial it would be impractical to impose.

The Coroner then expressed his sympathies to Bell’s parents and his former partner, who were present in court.

There was no reaction from the family when the verdict was read out.

Mr Cameron told them: “Any death is a tragedy whatever circumstances it occurs in before their natural time.

“I appreciate whatever the circumstances around Alistair Bell’s death it will have affected you deeply.

“However long it has been since your son and partner’s death. I offer my condolences.’’

These are the crucial last  hours of Alistair Bell.

They cover December 27 and 28,  2010, when he held police at bay  from his home in Kirkheaton.

Timeline of Alistair Bell siege

9pm:  Unarmed officers call to  arrest Bell at his home in Cockley  Hill Lane, Kirkheaton. He fires  shots at officers, injuring one.

9.05pm: Firearms officers are  called along with dogs units, the  West Yorkshire Police helicopter  and uniformed officers who set up  a cordon.

10.11pm: Bell’s father Gordon  phones his son who tells him: “I’ve  shot two coppers.” Gordon Bell  can hear shots being fired while  his son is on the phone.

11pm:  An armoured Land Rover is  reversed towards Bell’s home.

11.12pm:  High-powered spotlights  trained on house.

12pm: Electricity supply turned off  at Cockley Hill Lane to encourage  Bell to make contact with police.

3.04am: Bell’s neighbour Anita  Thorpe calls 999 and tells  operators she can hear Bell  moving about saying he has  “booby-trapped the house with a  hand grenade” and is going to  “blow them all to kingdom come”.

4am: Neighbours are evacuated  by armed officers.

4am: Robotic camera breaks  window in house.

4.05am:  Firearms officer D20 talks  to Bell who replies he can see him  and can “take him out”. Officer  moves  for his own safety.

5.15am: Female police negotiator  offers refreshments to Bell.

5.29am: Officers spot  Bell on the  stairs of his home armed with a  pistol.

5.30am: Police marksman  D20  fired three shots and Bell falls to  the foot of the stairs.

5.53am: Paramedic Peter  Stanforth cleared to attend the  scene after police establish there  are no explosives in the doorway.  Bell still conscious and breathing.

6.26am: Bell goes into cardiac  arrest on way to Huddersfield  Royal Infirmary. Paramedics  perform CPR.

6.43am: Admitted to HRI and team  continue CPR for 10 minutes. Bell  pronounced dead by consultant  Amjid Mohammed.

THE NARRATIVE VERDICT IN FULL

"At about 5.30am on December  28, 2010, at 16 Cockley Hill Lane,  Kirkheaton, as part of an  ongoing police incident in which  Alistair Bell had fired a  considerable number of shots  from an unlawfully owned  firearm, some of which had been  aimed at police officers, the  deceased was shot by a police  officer who fired three shots, two  of which caused fatal injuries to  Alistair Bell.

"Alistair Bell was in possession of  a handgun and was pointing it  in the direction of police  positioned outside the property.

"The shots fired by the police  officer were justified.

"The contributory factor was that  Alistair Bell continued to point  his weapon in the direction of  police officers."