Inquest hears of Swindon man's final moment before police shot him dead

An inquest has heard that a man, shot dead by police in Swindon in 2020, was holding an air rifle at the time.

Graham Trinder, who was 57, suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest during the incident.

The inquest heard he had been involved in a drunken row with a neighbour in the same day.

Mr Trinder, who was known as Tommy, was shot outside his home in Summers Street, Rodbourne, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court heard Mr Trinder had been drinking with his neighbours when a dispute broke out shortly before 2am, which resulted in Mr Trinder fetching an air rifle from his home.

An unmarked Wiltshire Police car was first to arrive at the scene and an armed officer, known only as AL/1, left the vehicle and challenged Mr Trinder to put down his weapon.

After a second verbal challenge, Mr Trinder was shot once in the chest, the inquest jury was told.

In a series of written statements read to the court, neighbours of Mr Trinder described the events leading up to and after the shooting.

One said he was awoken to hear shouting between the two men.

He said another neighbour pushed Mr Trinder inside his home who then came back outside holding the air rifle shortly before the police arrived.

"The police officer got out of his car, at which point Graham was outside his house with the air rifle pointing down," he said.

"The police officer was stood near the bonnet of his car and he removed his gun and then said, 'Armed police, please put your weapon down'.

"The police officer repeated, 'Armed police, please put your gun down'. As he finished his sentence he shot Graham in the chest.

"There was no talking to Graham and the police officer only gave him two options. He told him who he was, and then told him who he was again, and by the time the police officer finished his sentence he fired his gun."

Another neighbour said: "The shot was literally on the last word and there was no other talking," she said.

"There was no more than a couple of minutes between the police pulling up at the house, the warning being given and the shot."

The hearing continues.