Mark Duggan’s aunt calls for calm after inquest decision
Mark Duggan’s aunt, Carole Duggan, has said the family will fight the inquest decision of lawful killing “through the courts” and has called for calm.
On Wednesday, a jury concluded Mark Duggan was lawfully killed when he was shot dead by police in August 2011.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe thanked Mark Duggan’s family for “expressing their desire to pursue their case peacefully”.
Mark Duggan’s death in Tottenham, north London, sparked widespread disorder.
The killing of Mark Duggan, 29, was followed by protests which descended into looting and rioting in the capital and spread to other cities in England.
Earlier, his aunt Carole Duggan said: “No demonstrations, no more violence, we will have to fight this and go through the struggle peacefully to get justice.”
Following the conclusion of the inquest, the family reacted with anger to the jury’s decision that officers had acted within the law.
Carole Duggan has called for the Independent Police Complaints Commission to review the case.
British PM David Cameron welcomed Carole Duggan’s message of restraint, but stressed the outcome of the inquest had to be respected.
He said: “These issues raise very strong emotions but I hope people can react calmly and recognize that we have proper judicial processes in this country and they are the ones that must be followed.
“I very much respect Mark Duggan’s aunt for saying pursue the case in the courts and not the street.”
David Cameron did admit more work was needed to improve race relations.
“There’s still racial prejudice in our country, there’s still discrimination,” he said.
“But I think what you can see is governments…trying to break down these barriers and end discrimination and make sure people are valued for the passion in their heart and the thoughts their head, rather than the color of their skin.”
Meanwhile it has emerged the names of the ten jurors who delivered the verdict are to remain confidential.
The seven women and three men, who come from the north London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Harrow and Haringey, have been offered counseling which is routine in cases deemed to be of a sensitive nature.
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