An Inquest jury has concluded a man was unlawfully killed in Hull
Lewis Skelton died after he was shot twice by a police officer
Last updated 15th Oct 2021
A 31-year-old man who was shot dead by police as he carried an axe on a city centre street was unlawfully killed, an inquest jury has concluded.
Lewis Skelton died after he was shot twice by a police officer when Tasers had no effect, the jury at Hull Coroner's Court heard during five weeks of evidence.
The inquest heard how Mr Skelton was shot in Hull after he failed to respond to officers' instructions to stop.
The jury was told that Humberside Police received three 999 calls on November 29 2016, saying a man was walking down Holderness Road carrying an axe.
Armed police were deployed and two officers caught up with him on Caroline Place.
The officer who fired the fatal shots - only identified as B50 - described how Mr Skelton failed to stop when challenged and the use of Taser four times by both he and his colleague - identified only as Charlie - had no effect.
Mr Skelton, who had mental health problems, was shot twice in the back with a Glock pistol.
The officer said he shot Mr Skelton as he believed he was a threat to the lives of a group of workmen who were approaching him in the street.
In a statement on their website - Humberside Police said:
"Today (Friday 15th October 2021), a jury at Hull Coroner’s Court has found that it was more likely than not that Lewis Skelton was unlawfully killed.
We are disappointed with this conclusion and are concerned that it does not undermine the confidence of officers to act decisively when making split-second decisions to protect the public.
Prior to this verdict, the IOPC in their independent investigation found that the actions taken by our officers on that day, in what was a complex and challenging situation requiring fast-time decision making, were proportionate to the risk that was identified to members of the public.
Following a change in the law last year, such conclusions are no longer assessed in the coroner's courts by the more exacting standards that they used to be. Additionally, the jury had to make its decision in very different circumstances to those that confronted the officers on the day.
Our officers responded to four 999 calls to a man armed with, and waving, an unsheathed axe marching towards the city centre who did not stop despite four attempts to taser him.
In light of the IOPC’s full and independent investigation, which came to very different conclusions to those of the jury, in that, they found that no police officers had either committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings, we now await further directions from the IOPC. We respect the decision made by the jury today.
Our thoughts remain with Lewis’ family and friends, and the officers involved in this very sad and tragic event. We hope today has brought them some closure as to the events of 29th November 2016"