Pc shooting inquest verdict
Shot Shropshire police officer Richard Gray was unlawfully killed by gunman Peter Medlicott who then turned the weapon on himself, an inquest ruled today. Shot Shropshire police officer Richard Gray was unlawfully killed by gunman Peter Medlicott who then turned the weapon on himself, an inquest ruled today. The jury in the inquest of the two men returned their verdicts after a five-day long hearing. It followed the shooting of Constable Gray by Mr Medlicott early on May 6. Constable Gray had run to the aid of unarmed officers Keiron Cornell and Sharon Phillips who were being held hostage by the gunman. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Constable Gray had run to the aid of unarmed officers Keiron Cornell and Sharon Phillips who were being held hostage by the gunman.
Coroner for mid and north Shropshire John Ellery said: "It is of the highest concern that a serving police officer should be shot in the execution of his duties. This has been a particularly demanding and difficult inquest.
"It was clear to me from the moment I attended the initial briefing on that day, May 6, how deeply the officers had been affected but how professional they were and have been in the run-up to and during this inquest.
"Especially I wish to commend the actions of Keiron Cornell, Sharon Phillips and (Constable Gray's police partner) Matt Crisp for what they did in the circumstances.
"The greatest commendation must go posthumously to Police Constable Richard Gray himself, who instinctively went to the aid of his colleagues and was shot.
"We must remember the Medlicott family who cannot be held responsible for the actions of their son and brother. It is clear that there are severe issues to be learned and indeed are being learned."
Constable Gray's widow Jenny Lee-Gray today paid tribute to her husband.
In a statement read outside the court by her lawyer David Twigg she said it was a tragedy that his life was taken so "needlessly and brutally".
She said: "My husband was killed by a man who should not have been permitted to possess firearms."
Mr Ellery spoke of the first call between Mr Medlicott's girlfriend Ethel Mildred Jones and call taker Derek Deakin, who assumed officers would pick up information about Mr Medlicott's firearms licence.
He said: "It seems to me the call takers should be trained so that they know to pass on accurately all information and should not assume."
By Rhea Parsons and Rebecca Lawrence