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.
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.
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.”
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.
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."