UK & World News
- 4 August 2012, 17:52
Duggan's Mother: My Son Was Assassinated
The mother of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police officers in north London last summer, has claimed her son was 'assassinated'.
Mr Duggan, 29, was shot dead while police officers were trying to arrest him in Tottenham shortly before the riots last August.
Mother Pamela Duggan told Sky News: "I don't say killed, I say assassinated, because he was."
However, last summer the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) categorically denied that the death was an "assassination".
Mrs Duggan has said she and her family have many unanswered questions about the shooting.
"Why was he surrounded by 31 officers? Why was he shot twice? Why was the cab moved from the scene, taken away and brought back? They can't answer me."
Mr Duggan's aunt, Carole Duggan, told Sky News: "Some people would say the police wouldn't shoot anybody for nothing. He must have done something. But it has been proved that he hadn't got a gun, he didn't have a gun in his possession.
"Furthermore, he was going about his business - he was going home on his own."
The Duggan family spoke to Sky News a year after the shooting but they say they have been consistently let down by those responsible for investigating the death.
Exactly what happened that evening is still being investigated by the IPCC.
The family are dismayed that the police officers involved in the operation cannot be compelled to be interviewed over what happened.
Both the Metropolitan Police and the IPCC have apologised to the family for failing to keep them properly informed during their investigations.
Carole Duggan added: "The IPCC and the Metropolitan Police have just made so many blunders and have had to apologise on so many occasions that we have just lost trust and faith in both."
Their long wait for answers is likely to stretch well into next year because the inquest into Mark Duggan's death is scheduled to begin next January.
Mr Duggan's father, Bruno Hall, died last month without finding out the truth about his son's death.
Pamela Duggan said: "I have to live on, for my other son and my grandchildren. I have lost two people so special in my life in the last 12 months. This is through what has happened to Mark."
The family plan to hold a day of remembrance this Sunday to mark the anniversary of Mr Duggan's death.
what do you think?
gengisken1227
Chav criminals with a known history of carrying weapons (for going about their business) can expext not to be believed when they do not comply with officers of the law, afterall the police also have a duty to protect themselves and with guns, knives etc being the standard these days, who could blame them. It is the criminals who have created the mistrust, so if they get the short end - well tough. The police for all their faults are there to protect the law abiding populace and without them it would be crims with guns taking bribes at checkpoints a la Somalia
Steven White
Next you'll be saying judges should lock people up if they "think" your guilty. You can't just take someone's life so easy whoever the person is. This man had children
Julie Crumpton
Then that man should of thought of his children, before embarking on a life of crime.......shouldn't he?
Phil Tanner
Is the truth going to be discovered ? Only the truth that the authorities want us to know ! IPCC are investigating it ! It's been a year now , and the inquest is still sometime away , just long enough to be able to make a credible truth so no policeman can be prosecuted , may I suggest ! This is why not all police should be armed , it would be carnage !
Dave Harrison
Phil. I don't like the idea of the police investigating themselves as it is wide open to allegations of cover up. I think you will find the coroner is rather more independent and more likely to discover the truth
Colin Horsman
If he had kept to the right side of the law,he woudn't have been in that position ,would he?,carry guns,pay the price!!
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James Sheen
Do as your have been asked by someone that holds some authority, thats the problem with society today. People think that they can do what the hell they want with no concesequences. So many people have no respect for the police or teachers or homeowners. The riots last year would have been over in a couple of nights if the police had gone around and shot most them! Too many people thinking that they are playing Grand Theft Auto in real life!!
Steven White
Great idea! Lets shoot everyone who does something wrong????? I think criminals have got to easy and the courts are way to lenient, but i think arming bobbys on the beat would result in unneeded fatality. heaven forbid we end up like the yanks!
Dave Harrison
James. I think you are right that people think they can do what they like. Tell a kid to do something these days and they don't see it as an instruction but a basis for discussion
Gavin Freeborn
Im sorry but if you live by the sword you die by the sword this man was a known felon with a history of carrying a weapon he 100% shouldn't of been shot but his life choice was to play gangsters
jack
Couldn't have put it better myself.
jack
I wonder if any of this Duggan chap's family, friends and community have any sympathies for the innocent hardworking people that lost their homes, businesses and lives. Don't think so. I was mortified when i read at his funeral someone described him as "our fallen soldier". What an insult to the soldiers in the army fighting abroad.
Dave Harrison
Jack. That is the mentality of the group he belonged to. They see themselves as apart from mainstream society and not bound by its conventions. The fallen soldier comparison is chilling because their enemy is the rest of us
ali baba
Such a shame the London riots were in support over a criminal. Made the whole riot episode, pointless and meaningless.
Philip Alderson
This man may may be aknown felon but he doesn't deserve to be shot dead in the street like a rabid dog. for those who think we don't have the death sentence in this country, think again. Only now the police are the judge, jury and executioner and they appear to be getting away with it.
john
At least when we had the death penalty the accused got a trial before we hung them, now it seems that the police use the Judge Dread comic as a training manual.
Fred Stuart
I smell some one looking for compensation.................
Steven White
Are you saying this women wants compensation for her sons death??? That's low of you. Do you know this women? Who are you to judge? There can be no compensation for the loss of one of your children.
Dave Harrison
Steven. I take your point that nothing compensates a mother for the death of a child. However I suspect Fred is speaking from what we know of people today. The number of times we read heartwrenching stories which always seem to be end with "The family are taking legal advice and we all know what that means Money please
Michael Mcardle
dave its no good you trying to defend fred stuarts disgusting comment. it was tottaly out of order.
Dave Harrison
Michael. Are you trying to say that we don't live in a compensation culture where every accident, misfortune, medical mistake etc etc is quickly followed by ambulance chasing lawyers promising compensation on a no win no fee basis?? You can't live in the UK then
marc H
This weak government are about to throw a sacrifice to the baying crowd, in the shape of a policeman who was only doing the job he is payed to do, namely to protect the innocent. The ARP must be backed or we will have them resigning in droves and we will be left to the mercy of the armed hoodlums. Back them or lose them, endof.
Steven White
Doing his job?? Shooting an unarmed man in his car? I hope there isn't to many officers who "do there job" in the future.
Michael Mcardle
theres no chance of any of them resigning. they love the power it gives them. and they are not payed to go around shooting people. they are supposed to be highly trained to handle and read situations and in this instance they failed miserably
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Michael Dynes
Carole Duggan accuses the police and the IPCC of many blunders. She should reflect on her own blunder, raising a gun carrying thug, who by his own antics got himself shot by the police. Stop trying to make a hero of him by suggesting he was assassinated. Believe me, he was not that significant. As Gavin below says, you live by the sword, you die by it. I have no sympathy for him.
Michael Mcardle
michael you just cant run around shooting unarmed people thats the point.
Anthony Smith
I doubt very much that the police shot him for no reason.
Michael Mcardle
look at the facts he was unarmed. no weapon was found. 31 police officers had him surrounded.of course he was assassinated. yet another example of armed police officers ((assassins)) running around shooting wily nily. of course the police will cover it up and no one will be punished. disgusting
stephen
don't judge them that don't judge you.only judge them that judge you
Dave Harrison
Hello Stephen. We haven't heard from you for a week, have you been away ??
happymike CHESTER
Sad to see this young man decided to take the wrong turn in life ,but drug dealers and criminals should live in fear not the law abiding majority. We have been too soft for the past 40 years with holiday camps for gaols run by private companies who offer allsorts of freebie `s to enable the gaols to run with less staff. Bring back the Approved schools.
fish41
send 31 armed officers and you cant find the one who fired the fatal shot--therefore no trial. Similar case up here in Warrington. Armed units tear gas a car and shoot one occupant dead as he didnt respond to calls to get out the vehicle--again no weapon found.
Dave Harrison
9:15pm on 3/8/2012
There is something that smells about this shooting and I am suspicious of the misinformation the police put out in an effort to cover their backs.However I dont think the family are doing anyone any favours either by issuing inflamatory statements before what happened is finally established