Mark Duggan inquest can be challenged, judge rules

The mother of Mark Duggan, who was shot dead by police in north London sparking nationwide riots, has won her bid to challenge the inquest into his death.

Pamela Duggan can apply for judicial review on the grounds that the coroner’s direction to the jury in the inquest was “arguably inadequate”, a High Court judge ruled Tuesday.

The inquest jury at the Royal Courts of Justice concluded in January that police acted lawfully when they shot the 29-year-old in Tottenham, in August 2011.

A police marksman fired at Duggan after officers stopped a taxi carrying the father-of-six, based on intelligence that he was armed with a gun.

The inquest found that Duggan was not holding the gun at the time the fatal shots were fired.

But the jury ruled that the killing was nevertheless lawful after hearing that a weapon was found wrapped in a sock close to the spot where he died.

Mrs Duggan will argue at a further High Court hearing on a date to be confirmed that the coroner failed to address important questions that would have cast doubt on a verdict of lawful killing.

If successful, the case will be heard by a panel of judges at the Divisional Court in London.

Duggan’s death triggered a wave of urban riots and looting that spread from Tottenham across London and then to other cities including Birmingham and Manchester in 2011, leaving five people dead.

The inquest verdict prompted further protests outside Tottenham police station with demonstrators condemning the “perverse” verdict.