Thursday 9 January 2014

Mark Duggan Inquest: Police 'Not Guilty'

'NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!'
 
FEAR of more riots and trouble in Tottenham, north London, is stalking the aftermath of the verdict that Mark Duggan was 'lawfully killed', following a majority jury decision at yesterday's Inquest into the death of Mark Duggan at the London High Court.  After the verdict family and friends of Mr. Duggan reacted with anger.
 
Mark Duggan's aunt, Carol, said:
'The majority of people in this country know Mark was executed.  He was executed and we still believe that.'
 
The jurors accepted that he was unarmed when the fatal shot was fired, but still ruled by a majority of eight to two that he was lawfully killed.  Outside the High Court supporters shouted 'Murderers!' and 'No justice no peace.'
 
Mark Duggan, 29, was shot dead in Tottenham in August 2011, triggering riots in London which soon spread across Britain. 
 
Today, Mr. Duggan's aunt, Carol said on Radio Four news that the family will push for a judicial review.  The family solicitor, Marcia Willis Stewart said:
'No gun in his hand and yet he was shot-murdered.'
 
Last night, extra police were on stand-by in London just in case of signs of unrest. 
 
Riots have a long history in England:  in the 19th century on the afternoon of Monday the 8th, February, 1886, London, according to Sarah Wise in her book 'The Blackest Streets', witnessed 'the first of a series of mass demonstrations of the London unemployed, terrifying and astonishing the West End'
Ms. Wise writes:
'It was one thing to read accounts of privation and appalling conditions in the London slums; it was quite another to see British labouring men (widely thought to be docile, inarticulate and apolitical) going so far as to organise themselves and march behind banners that appeared to question the social and economic foundation of British civilisation.'
 
The family have urged supporters of Mark Duggan to be peaceful, and a vigil for Mark will be held outside Tottenham police station at 2p.m. on Saturday.


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