James Ashley

James Ashley

James Ashley was a 39-year-old man who was shot dead by armed police while unarmed and nakedcite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3264957.stm|title=Ashley shot naked and unarmed|work=BBC NEWS|date=12 November 2003] , during a raid on his flat in St Leonards, East Sussex, United Kingdom, on 15 January, 1998. Ashley and several of the apartment's other residents were suspected of involvement in large-scale drug deals. Having previously served two years on a charge of manslaughter, Ashley had been involved in a pubroom stabbing several months earlier, although only in so much as a friend of his attacked someone else before Ashley pulled him away. A search of the premises later turned up a small amount of cannabis.

Ashley had been in bed with his girlfriend at the time of the raid, and had got out of bed to investigate noises coming from the flat . As he moved towards the door of his darkened bedroom an armed police officer stepped into the room. Seeing Ashley approaching and having been briefed that the occupants of the flat could be armed and dangerous, the officer reacted by firing his weapon at Ashley .

At a subsequent press conference, the Chief Constable of Sussex Police, Paul Whitehouse, claimed that James Ashley had been wanted for murder but this was not correct. Ashley had however been convicted of manslaughter in the past.

An enquiry was held into the incident and Sir John Hoddinott, the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary later found "suggestive evidence of collusion between some or all of the chief officers of the Sussex force to conceal what they already knew, and that an arguable case of attempting to pervert the course of justice might be made out." [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020211/debtext/20211-12.htm] Hansard, 11 February 2002, Column 47.]

Hoddinott also said that there was evidence of criminal malfeasance and falsehood, neglect of duty, discreditable conduct against the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex, Mark Jordan, and aiding and abetting the false statements of his chief, Paul Whitehouse. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020211/debtext/20211-12.htm] Hansard, 11 February 2002, Column 47.] Mr. Whitehouse insisted that he bore no responsibility for the events that had occurred but when the Home Secretary, David Blunkett suggested that he resign, he took that course of action. Constable Sherwood and four other officers were all charged and found not guilty in James Ashley's death, they continued to serve as policemen. Five police officers who were suspended following the shooting later unsuccessfully attempted to sue the Sussex police for the "psychiatric injury" they suffered due to alleged improper training they received [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/4852692.stm|title=Police told they cannot sue force|work=BBC NEWS|date=28 March 2006] .

The affair re-ignited public concern about the wisdom of arming British policemen and allowing them to attend at incidents involving firearms. Their American counterparts have a number of strategies and a variety of equipment to deal with gun incidents, the last of which involves actually opening fire. [Panorama: Lethal Force (BBC One, 9 December 2001. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/panorama/transcripts/transcript_09_12_01.txt Transcript] .]

References

External links

* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/crimedebate/story/0,12079,1071377,00.html Police will say sorry to shot man's family]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • James Ashley (politician) — James Ashley (21 May 1940 – 12 August 2006)James Ashley was a Liberal Democrat politician in the City of Manchester, where he was a councillor for the Gorton South ward from 1987 until his death in 2006.In May 2006 James Ashley became the Lord… …   Wikipedia

  • Death of James Ashley — This article is about the British man shot dead by police. For the United States Congressional Representative, see James Mitchell Ashley. For the British politician, see James Ashley (politician). James Ashley was a 39 year old man who was shot… …   Wikipedia

  • Ashley Massaro — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Ashley Massaro Nombres artísticos: Ashley Altura: 1.65 m ( …   Wikipedia Español

  • James Mitchell Ashley — (November 14, 1824ndash September 16, 1896) was a U.S. congressman, territorial governor and railroad president.Early lifeAshley was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, to John and Mary A. (Kilpatrick) Ashley. He married Emma Smith in 1851… …   Wikipedia

  • James Campbell (industrialist) — James Campbell (February 4, 1826 ndash; April 21, 1900) is the founder of the Estate of James Campbell, one of the largest and wealthiest landowners in the United States Territory of Hawai i and present day Hawaii. It is on land owned by his… …   Wikipedia

  • James Chambers (English footballer) — Football player infobox playername = James Chambers fullname = James Ashley Chambers height = height|ft=5|in=10 nickname = dateofbirth = birth date and age|1980|11|20|df=y cityofbirth = Sandwell countryofbirth = England currentclub = Doncaster… …   Wikipedia

  • James Chambers (footballeur) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Chambers. James Chambers …   Wikipédia en Français

  • James P. Beckwourth — James Pierson Beckwourth (* 26. April 1798 oder 1800 als James P. Beckwith in Frederick County, Virginia; † 29. Oktober 1866 im Norden Colorados), auch Jim Beckwourth, war ein Sklave, Trapper, Indianer Häuptling, Soldat, Händler,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James Pierson Beckwourth — (* 26. April 1798 oder 1800 als James P. Beckwith in Frederick County, Virginia; † 29. Oktober 1866 im Norden Colorados), auch Jim Beckwourth, war ein Sklave, Trapper, Indianer Häuptling, Soldat, Händler, Gastwirt und Scout im Wilden Westen. Er… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • James II of England — James II redirects here. For other uses, see James II (disambiguation). James II VII[1] King of England, Scotland a …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”