![]() ![]() "The chief constable is a public officer and has a duty to tell the truth," the report said. It condemned Mr Whitehouse for holding a press conference in which he wrongly stated that Mr Ashley was wanted for attempted murder, the raid was professionally planned and that the use of firearms was justified. there was a plan to deceive and the intelligence concocted."Ī senior source in Kent police said the investigation found widespread "systemic failure" in the Sussex force.Ī separate, confidential report into the conduct of Mr Whitehouse, which has been leaked to the Guardian, was undertaken by the chief constable of Hampshire, Sir John Hoddinott. Kent's report concluded that the raid had been authorised on intelligence that was "not merely exaggerated, it was determinably false. ![]() It was accepted that Mr Sherwood had acted in self-defence and the prosecution could not disprove his claim, the court heard.Īnother officer, PC Robert Shoesmith, was also cleared of misfeasance at an earlier hearing when the prosecution offered no evidence.Ĭharges against the men were brought following an investigation into Mr Ashley's death by Kent police under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority. ![]() The judge, Mrs Justice Rafferty, instructed the jury to find PC Chris Sherwood, a member of Sussex's special operations unit, not guilty of murder. Under current laws, it is not possible to bring a charge of corporate manslaughter against the police.Įarlier this month the officer who shot Mr Ashley, killing him with a single bullet at virtually point blank range in front of his girlfriend, Caroline Courtland-Smith, walked free from the Old Bailey. While the raid should not have been sought and should not have been approved, Mr Sweeney said it would be impossible to pursue cases against individual officers because of the depth of "corporate failure" in the force and the lack of evidence of deliberate intent to damage the public interest. Nevertheless, Nigel Sweeney, QC, prosecuting, said he was offering no evidence on the charges of misfeasance - misuse of public office. Officers claimed the raid was essential to recover a kilo of cocaine, seize a firearm and arrest a man who was wanted for attempted murder. They were accused of deliberately failing to make a true assessment of the intelligence which led to the armed raid at Mr Ashley's flat at 4am. ![]() The extent of the incompetence and alleged deceit surrounding the events before and after the shooting in St Leonards, East Sussex, emerged yesterday following a decision at Wolverhampton crown court to abandon the prosecution of three Sussex officers - Supt Christopher Burton, 43, Det Insp Kevin French, 47, and Det Insp Christopher Siggs, 42. Relatives of Mr Ashley yesterday demanded Mr Whitehouse's resignation, described the collapse of the prosecutions as "a scandal" and threatened to take civil action. None of the other officers, however, was charged with criminal offences. ![]()
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