Marksman 'saw empty hand' before fatal shooting

The misconduct hearing against Metropolitan Police officer W80 began regarding the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker, 28, during a failed prison break on December 11, 2015. W80 shot Baker at close range, believing he was reaching for a gun, even though Baker's hands were empty and visible. Baker sat in a stolen Audi A6 with two accomplices, and an imitation firearm was later discovered in the vehicle's back seat. The panel highlighted that W80 failed to give Baker adequate instructions before firing. The Crown Prosecution Service previously deemed there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges, yet a police watchdog mandated misconduct proceedings.

This situation has led to protracted legal disputes, with the Supreme Court ultimately allowing the misconduct hearing to proceed. In 2022, a public inquiry ruled that Baker had been lawfully killed, complicating the narrative around police use of force. The misconduct hearing is expected to last two weeks, scrutinizing police actions during the incident.