Mark Duggan inquest: police officer denies 'highly offensive' claim he planted gun

 
Shot: Mark Duggan's death sparked rioting across London
Staff|Agency5 December 2013

A police officer has denied the "highly offensive" claim that he planted a gun at the scene where Mark Duggan was shot.

The witness, appearing anonymously as V59 at Mr Duggan's inquest, denied lying in his testimony during heated exchanges at the High Court.

The Duggan family's solicitor, Leslie Thomas, claimed there V59's evidence was not consistent with that given by other officers, accusing him of planting a weapon near Mr Duggan's body.

Mr Thomas questioned how the officer - a police team leader - knew there would be a gun on the other side of a fence on a green in Tottenham near the scene of the shooting, which sparked rioting across the capital in August 2011.

"I'm going to suggest to you, V59, that you knew where the gun was before the officers had gone round (the fence), because you, and all of your colleagues had planted it there," the lawyer said.

V59 replied: "Mr Thomas, I find that highly offensive. I did not plant any gun at any scene. I find that highly offensive."

Mr Thomas put it to the officer that he was told their movements were being filmed on CCTV cameras in the area.

"Somebody tipped you off about the video didn't they?" the lawyer suggested.

"Mr Thomas, please don't say things like that," V59 replied.

The lawyer continued: "You've been caught out, haven't you."

But V59 insisted: "Please don't call me a liar. I have come to give evidence. I have not been caught out. I have told no lies."

Suggesting V59 or one of the officers on his team had brought a weapon to the scene, Mr Thomas asked: "Who had the gun?"

The witness replied: "No-one put the gun on the green. Mark Duggan had the gun in his hand."

He added: "Sir, you've accused me of planting a gun."

Mr Thomas quipped: "I've also accused you of being a liar."

After V59, the final witness, had finished giving evidence, coroner Judge Keith Cutler sent the jury home for the day.

Mr Duggan, a father-of-four, was killed when he was shot by police who stopped the taxi he was travelling in in August 2011.

Judge Cutler has indicated that summing up could start as late as Monday.

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